Review: REPLAY Slides Doors in a Tale of Three Brothers

In one of the year's most compelling home-grown narratives, Phillip Kavanagh's Replay posits to the audience: what if you could take your one regret back, and live as though it never happened? And what if the next day, someone else took their regret back and changed your future all over again? A remarkable concept for an intriguing piece of work by an emerging Australian playwright.

When two brothers bond over re-imagining the life of their other brother Michael in a childhood accident, the outcome is startling, hilarious and change their fortunes irrevocably - or so they think. Tempting though it is to give the game away, Replay will require your attention and your suspension of disbelief for a fantastical story set in our own backyard of pressures on the masculine. The juxtaposition of a metaphysical construct with a naturalistic set and script gives depth to the domestic drama, a simple couch and carpet worked strongly into the action directed by Lee Lewis.

The chemistry between the three brothers struck an uncomfortably authentic tone that zeroed in on the competitive nature perpetuated by "boys will be boys". Alfie Gledhill as the youngest and weakest John took to the transformation with an energy that grew exponentially, and seemed much more comfortable in the confident components of the character. Anthony Gooley as upper-middle brother Peter took strong hold of the straight humour with a well-oiled grip, and was able to move between raw emotion and masculine bravado smoothly. Jack Finsterer's performance as scene-stealing eldest Michael took full advantage of Kavanagh's text as an opportunity to break the barriers of traditional character development and shine through a potentially positive role model. The work shone in its representation of multi-dimensional men that didn't remark too heavily on women or binary gender politics to justify itself.

Replay provoked discussion and brought the audience in touch with their own past recollections of traumatic events, attendees need only focus on the strength of the story's energy to get the most from this world premiere. Although, the early moments of Replay do feel like a race to the big twist, made all the more acute by Daryl Wallis' design that created unnecessary urgency and sinister tone, once it gears in, the senses of voyeurism and intrigue make for fascinating theatre. Kavanagh's representation of gay men is marvellously-handled by Lewis and Finsterer in a character we've all been waiting for; this good example is undercut however by Gooley's mannerisms in a later scene sure to touch many hearts regardless.

Replay has the makings of a classic, and is well-worth some time spent with your most intellectual and metaphysical friends to indulge in Australia's own Inception, mixed with a little Sliding Doors and a little Butterfly Effect. You may find yourself going back for, dare I, a replay. Tickets at Griffin Theatre Company website.