Genevieve Lemon, Libby Asciak and Gerrard Carroll. Photo: Phil Erbacher
“There’s nowt so queer as folk.” That’s an expression from the north of England (Yorkshire and Lancashire, if you want me to be precise), which basically means there is no accounting for human behaviour.
It came to mind as I was watching the new play at the Ensemble Theatre, which is titled Folk and is a three-hander about three very different people: Sister Winnie, an irreverent Irish nun played by Genevieve Lemon; her uptight and socially awkward friend Stephen (Gerard Carroll) and a disaffected and unhappy teenager, Kayleigh (Libby Asciak). It’s a play full of folk songs. As writer Tom Wells explains, “When you listen to a lot of these songs you see that the stories they tell are full of struggle and resilience, full of characters who feel strong and brave and [are] sometimes a bit broken. I wanted to write a play that felt a bit like a folk song.”
Sister Winnie and Stephen like a bit of a sing-along at her house on a Friday night, along with a pint of Guinness, but their routine is disrupted when a brick lobs through her window, courtesy of Kayleigh.
Like a good nun, Winnie asks Kayleigh in to explain herself and, much to Stephen’s confusion and annoyance, is prepared to forgive and forget – especially when Kayleigh demonstrates her musical talent. And Asciak’s Kayleigh can not only play a whistle a lot better than Stephen, but she has a beautiful voice.
Of course, each of these three has a secret. Winnie has a life-threatening heart condition, which she won’t admit to herself, let alone anyone else; 15-year-old Kayleigh is pregnant to Jason, who has just died in a car accident; and Stephen… well, you’ll have to guess, or go see for yourself.
What keeps this mismatched three together is music, and this is a play with songs (rather than a musical). Its themes are indeed struggle and resilience, and – in time – bonds of friendship. It’s a small play with a big cast: Lemon’s warmth and singing skills are never in doubt; Carroll plays his character as well and his whistle as badly as the script demands; and Asciak is totally believable as the wayward and vulnerable Kayleigh, who is just hanging out for some support and affection.
It all takes place in Sister Winnie’s living room and the set (Hugh O’Connor), replete with religious statues, is as suburban and dreary as the playwright could want. Terence O’Connell directs. This is not a challenging night at the theatre, but it’s charming enough and well done.
At the Ensemble Theatre, Kirribilli, until 1 June.
Carrie Kablean
