★★★★☆
The Day of the Triffids was originally written as a novel by John Wyndham in 1951. Today, adapted by award-winning director J. James-Moody, it takes the form of a play at New Theatre in Sydney.
The post-apocalyptic tale is set in London after a meteor shower leaves its population blinded. Leading the audience through the city is Bill, a biologist and one of the very few left with sight. This is complicated further when Triffids, a carnivorous plant species, use the people’s absence as a chance to take over.
The mayhem of this apocalyptic setting is evoked masterfully in the play’s opening scenes. In particular, the green downlighting to represent the meteor in an otherwise dark room evokes an otherworldly dread. The lighting, by Holly Nesbitt, remains impressive throughout the play.
The other side of the opening scenes’ perfection is the brilliant acting from all involved. The screams are heart-wrenching and set the tone for what’s to come.
James-Moody also serves as director and production designer. His extensive experience is evident in how well composed these scenes of chaos are.
James Collins as Bill and Umai Shantharajah as Josella are compelling leads. Max Ryan as Torrence is an intriguing and wildly entertaining antagonist.
Natasha Todd as Coker also gives a strong performance. Coker is quite a compelling character, no doubt due to Todd’s dynamic work.
Given that most characters are blind, the show features a stripped-back set. Resultantly, it requires lighting and sound design to do a lot of the heavy lifting. In this regard, it certainly delivers.
When Triffids are present, it is conveyed through audio. It would have been easy to make the Triffids sound more monstrous, but instead they make a purring-clicking sound. This grounds the play and fits well with the 1950s setting.
The play also features period-accurate music that helps convey the setting. This is most notable in the first act, as it helps keep the show fast-paced. It also draws emotion from the audience as it creates a sense of naivety from the townspeople watching the meteor.
At one point, Triffids are represented using umbrellas with green lights beneath. This is a crafty and effective decision that would have been nice to see used again.
The play also features some very creative elements in the use of a projector to convey TV news reports. This is supported through the excellent voice work by Tony Llewellyn-Jones and Nathan Farrow. Their animated voices and strong accents are captivating.
Running this multimedia mayhem is stage manager Matilda Holton, who deserves much applause for keeping these elements running smoothly.
Adapting a novel is no easy task. The pacing of certain scenes in the latter half of the show left more to be desired. Regardless, James-Moody does an impressive job capturing the core themes and mood of the original text.
The Day of the Triffids is a highly intriguing viewing experience, and its 1950s post-war themes are surprisingly relevant today.
The Day of the Triffids runs to 25 July at New Theatre. 542 King Street Newtown NSW 2042.
Tickets: https://aunewtheatre.sales.ticketsearch.com/sales/salesevent/156913
Website: https://newtheatre.org.au/the-day-of-the-triffids/
Socials: https://www.instagram.com/newtheatresydney/
Photo credits: Chris Lundie
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