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ONE DAY CLOSER @ Camelot gets 6.5/10


One Day Closer
@ Camelot

Sunday, February 7, 2021

6.5/10

One Day Closer is a play written, directed, and starring the up-and-coming local talent Tim Hotchkin. It reflects on a sibling relationship between Jack (Hotchkin) and Simone (Maya Curtis) and the difficulties that arise when that relationship falters.

Jack is a typical younger brother who is trying to find his way in the world, and he looks to his more-experienced older sister Simone for guidance.

The opening scene of the play depicts both how annoying a younger brother can be and the pairs’ inseparable nature. Jack’s tardiness results in the two missing their bus home from school. Simone behaves responsibly and aims to resolve their situation, while Jack is anything but helpful, sulking, throwing a soccer ball at her head and playfully jumping on her shoulders for a ride home.

The siblings make for unlikely friends, but it is Simone’s loving and altruistic nature that drives the relationship as she goes out of her way to spend time and share her world with the friendless Jack. She takes him out to her friend’s house party despite his immaturity, but the two realise upon reaching the venue that they are a whole day early. This does not end their night however, as the good-natured Simone shrugs off the mistake and proclaims that the two can have a great time all by themselves. Handing Jack her bottle of wine, the two laugh and dance their troubles away, as they venture back into the suburban night, demonstrating the absolute joy that the two bring to one another’s lives.

In between the interactions of the sibling pair, the stage lights fall, and Jack moves to the front of the stage. His tone becomes reflective and sombre as he talks to an unknown third party; a therapist, a friend, but this is never really made clear. It is in these monologues that Hotchkin really shines, drawing the audience into his internal world.

In contrast, Curtis’ on-stage energy is lively and bouncy which helps to tell her character’s off-stage story. This contrasting dynamic of the duo elucidates the growth that occurs when we are with others different from ourselves, and the vital lessons that understanding these differences can teach us.

The play featured minimal drama and conflict resolution, something which would have further engaged the audience. Had there been more palpable drama, the character’s dreams and desires would have been easier to grasp and assisted in clarifying the play’s overall narrative.

However, to bring a full, independent original work together from absolutely nothing in the short time provided to Hotchkin (given his recent return to Perth from his studies in New York due to COVID-19), is no mean feat. It will be exciting to watch where these two young talents decide to take their careers into the future.

MICHAEL HOLLICK

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