Review: Control
Picture (L to R): Matt Domingo, Triona Calimbayan-Giles, Nykita O’Keeffe, and Egan Sun-Bin (Picture credit: Creative Futures Photography)
Think Big Brother blended with 2001: A Space Odyssey meets The Matrix, with a generous sprinkle of Bladerunner and the influential Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep. Brought to the stage by a talented cast of creatives (led by Lachlan Driscoll [Observatory Theatre’s Creative Producer], and Timothy Wynn [Director]), and featuring a strong cast (Triona Calimbayan-Giles, Nykita O’Keeffe, Egan Sun-Bin and Matt Domingo), Control is a show that keeps audiences thinking about the bigger questions of just who is in control, and what might be the future of humanity in an AI world?
Keziah Warner’s three-act Control spans the lives of three future generations: Big Brother travels to Mars (is the world really watching?), the next generation toil in the Museum of Childhood (can you ever really delete your memories?), and we start to hope that their grandchildren might ultimately forge a new humanity.
Having had a sneak peak of tonight’s preview, I am guessing that the holders of the sold out opening night performance of writer Keziah Warner’s Control are going to be delighted they have already snapped up tickets. Great direction and design (Timothy Wynn), lighting and vision that really enhances the piece (Nathaniel Knight), and excellent sound design (Juleece Dawe).
Watch out for Egan Sun-Bin’s entertaining creation of Alex (loved it), and Matt Domingo’s compelling portrayal of the hero older brother and tortured younger sibling—and I am certain that fellow reviewers will rave about the performances by Triona Calimbayan-Giles and Nykita O'Keeffe (the final act is so memorable, and quite moving).
Chookas to Timothy Wynn and the team. My advice is to see if tickets are available before the rest of the performances sell out. You’ll enjoy the show, and have plenty to talk about afterwards.
Picture (R to L): Triona Calimbayan-Giles and Nykita O'Keeffe (Credit: Creative Futures Photography)
Audience Information: Observatory Theatre’s 2022 production of Control has only four performances (9-11 June, 2022), at the Queensland Multicultural Centre, Kangaroo Point. Some coarse language, loud sounds, some flashing lights and infrequent sexual references. Tickets $32-40 (90 minutes, no interval).
The reviewer had a sneak peak of the 8 June Preview Night performance