A Breathtaking Night: A Review of "The Serpent's Teeth"

Last Wednesday, I went with the Falster family to watch Daniel Keene's The Serpent's Teeth. Prior to this, I had not seen a production of The Sydney Theatre Company, so I was quite excited. Given that it was at the Opera House playhouse, I felt I was in for a double treat.

True to form, I was amazed. The Serpent's Teeth is actually two one-act plays. The first is called Civilians, a story of Palestinians trapped by the walls that divide their country. In another way, it can reflect as well the walls we erect around ourselves and the way in which we break them down sometimes in order to communicate with others around us. I loved the set here (just a brick wall spanning the entire length of the stage), as there were subtle parts of it which reflect a deeper despair amongst people trapped by overpowering presence of a wall represting the corrupt power of the same people who are supposed to help and protect them.

Because this is set in a country that is so different from my own, it seemed so much easier to accept what was on stage and every little small detail could be easily taken in. Despite its depressing nature, I loved it.

Sadly, I did not find the second one-act play as engaging. It was called Soldiers and revolved around the effect of the death of Aussie soldiers in Iraq. The concept was quite basic and familiar, and perhaps that is what made it less interesting.

However, what wowed me was the way in which the thoughts of the characters were written. It is basically a combination of prose and poetry, and Daniel Keene has such a gift in verbalising the grief, anger and bewilderment that loss can bring.

That second play was so well-written that I had to get a copy of the scripts. Well worth the $15, in my honest opinion.

Here are some lines for your scrutiny.

(from a grieving mother)
"They'll carve his name in stone,
Why not here in my breast?
Why not here in the palm of my hand?
I'll wear his absence on my face,
why not his name?"

(more to follow)