Review: HITCHCOCK'S BIRDS Is A Wonderful Insight Into The Legendary Director

Friday 30 September 2016, 7pm, Erskineville Town Hall

HITCHCOCK'S BIRDS, the women that were the centre of so many of his thrillers, give an insight into the reality of working with the famous director. Writer and performer Laura Johnston brings a wonderfully researched show, filled with real stories, quoted verbatim to give a different perspective on "The Master Of Suspense".

In a simple black ensemble, Laura Johnston takes on the voices of the Leading Ladies of Alfred Hitchcock's iconic movies. A projection of the women ensures that the audience knows who Johnston is embodying at any particular time as she slips between characters and stories. Different locations around the thrust performance space and a wonderfully consistent adoption of the ladies voices also helps differentiate the ladies that include Tippi Hedren, Grace Kelly, Janet Leigh and Kim Novak.

Johnston breaks up the memories, interviews and speeches with songs that either fit with the memory or echo the mood. These songs are beautifully presented with accuracy and clarity, accompanied by a keyboard. The subtly exaggerated Que Sera Sera captures an interview with Doris Day before The Man Who Knew Too Much was released, before Day had polished her accent to what we hear on film. Johnston's rendition of Get Happy is poignant in its pleading, troubled restraint and is set to tie in with Hendren's memory of becoming the object of Hitchcock's unhealthy obsession.

Johnston moves the story from the adoration and admiration that the women felt for "Hitch", recounting how they would be in awe of his conviction that he had the shot he needed on first take and the words of wisdom they carried through their career, to a lesser known truth that life wasn't as rosy. Hendren's account of her exhaustion and fear of filming with the real birds is shocking and Leigh's memories of dealing with industry nudity regulations is surprising.

Whilst HITCHCOCK'S BIRDS only had a short run during Sydney Fringe Festival, hopefully Johnston will bring this back to Sydney. It will also be interesting to see what other work Johnston brings in future years as she is a new up and comer to look out for.