[THEATRE REVIEW] ARIA @ Ensemble Theatre Review (2025)
Families – you can’t live with them and you can’t live without them.
In short, that is what playwright David Williamson is playing with here … and it gets mighty hot in the kitchen.
Well-to-do, widowed family matriarch Monique (Tracy Mann) is looking forward to celebrating her three sons’ birthdays, all of which happen to fall on the same day.
The first to arrive is her youngest, Charlie (Rowan Davie), a successful ad man.
He is three years younger than his non identical twin brothers, ambitious politician Liam (Jack Starkey-Gill) and architectural draftsman Daniel (Sam O’Sullivan).
Charlie, who is Monique’s favourite, has been married for a year to a younger, needy beautician, Midge (Tamara Lee Bailey).
He has two daughters – now aged 6 and 8 – from his earlier marriage.
Midge – who speaks in a modern shorthand Charlie often doesn’t understand – is frustrated that he is forever spending time away with the boys.
She would like to start a family of their own, but Charlie doesn’t appear keen.
Self-centred Local Government Minister Liam has his eyes on the Premier’s position.
He is married to former teacher Chrissy (Suzannah McDonald).
The pair has four children and they are quite the handful, with the child rearing very much left to Chrissy, though she is struggling.
Daniel has a daughter with his wife, the partner in a law firm, Judy (Danielle King).
Judy wasn’t born with a silver spoon in her mouth.
Now, she wants to pull their child out of private school because she is worried that the youngster has gotten in with the wrong crowd.
Getting full support from Daniel isn’t all that easy, while Monique is aghast.
In fact, with little effort Monique manages to find fault with all her daughters in law, who, in turn, aren’t exactly enamoured with her.
Monique also bats off any criticism of her from anyone.
Each of the husbands also have issues with their wives, while the wives are fed up with their husbands.
Suddenly, marriages are teetering on the brink and, naturally, Monique is happy to offer some free advice.
Mind you, she is carrying a family secret of her own.
At these annual gatherings, Monique delivers a speech and those present must endure an Aria she sings.
She always fancied herself as the next Maria Callas, but truth be told she was never that good.
In time, no one holds back, tempers flare and hard truths are spoken, as the vitriol ramps up.
With the deliberately incendiary language and exaggerated characterisations, there are laughs aplenty to be had in ARIA.
The actors make the most of their opportunities, masterful at baiting and bravado.
Tracy Mann is the picture of entitlement as Monique. Her shrieky rendition of Mozart’s Queen of the Night from The Magic Flute is a highlight.
Tamara Lee Bailey is a hoot as Midge, the newbie on the block who desires all the creature comforts and is forever complaining.
Rowan Davie plays Charlie as the attempted peacemaker whose buttons are also pushed.
Jack Starkey-Gill imbues Liam with sanctimonious disregard, while Suzannah McDonald injects frustration into Chrissy, who it appears is taken for granted.
Danielle King has her feet firmly planted on the ground as the strong-willed Judy and there is quicksand about Sam O’Sullivan’s Daniel.
With champagne glasses at the ready, the setting is the outline of a well-appointed family home, nicely constructed by set and costume designer Rose Montgomery.
There are large paintings on the walls, a shiny black piano carrying a surfeit of family photos in small frames and a glass coffee table.
Director Janine Watson ensures the action moves along and no-one is spared their time in the sun, as the combatants go for the jugular.
David Williamson knows his audience and plays to it. He does so with the ease of the gifted craftsman that he is.
Ninety minutes without interval, ARIA is on at Ensemble Theatre until 15th March, 2025.
Review by Alex First. Photography by Prudence Upton