Rising Water- Tim Winton

Last Wednesday, our year 11 literature class gathered to the art centre to see the play, 'rising water' by Tim Winton. I hadn't read or seen anything of Tim Winton's previously, but supposedly he was a brilliant writer.

As we walked into the playhouse, I noticed that we were the youngest of the audience. Majority of the viewers were over the age of 60. The curtains were opened, exposing the scene. The audience instantly became aware the characters lived on water, not only by the title, but by the scenery.

Upon the stage were three boats in which the three main characters lived in, which was tied to a pier. The set was well executed was very realistic. The flooring was well designed, as it was made to look like water.

This play was set in Fremantle on Australia day. It appeared the whole town was celebrating.  Australians, in the play, were depicted as 'bogans' and quite racist. I felt this was unrealistic interpretation of Australians. Much Australian vernacular was used throughout the play.   

Baxter, Cole and Jacque are in such a free place, yet their boats are tied to the post. In reality they are trapped by events in their past. They like to keep to themselves; it’s as if they had come to the marina to hide from their troubles. So I think the location/ situation the characters are in is a metaphor for their lives. Their insecurities suggest a sense of isolation and lack of freedom. When a young woman (about 20), from the UK, named Dee is introduced in the story, they each reveal their troubling pasts. A depressing vibe is captured from the beginning of the play. It's obvious the characters are lonely, hopeless and suffer from lack of fulfillment in their life. Isolation and freedom are key themes within the play.
The main character, Baxter, played by John Howard, was previously a high school principal and married with two children. He is now separated from his wife as she committed adulatory, as a result, his children no longer talk to him as they believe he didn't try hard enough to keep the marriage together, which I think is a pathetic excuse not to talk to your father, if anything they should hate the mother for cheating in the first place.  

When two high school students are kicked out of home because one was found to be pregnant, Baxter decided to take them in. He had started up a program for teen mothers in need. I believe he did this because his own mother had had him when she was a teenager. When the boyfriend wrongly accuses Baxter of ‘Kiddy fiddling’, his reputation is ruined, forcing him into this state of isolation.

Dee also offers sex to Baxter in exchange for money, which he immediately declines. In the end, he gives her money for nothing in return. I think this really shows the selflessness of the character and how judgmental people in society can be.  

By the end of the play, the audience cannot help but pity this character, as we understand his difficult life.

Cole is a typical Aussie bloke, whose past was only spoken about briefly. He was previously an accountant, something neither of his neighbours were aware of. This again shows you may see someone quite often but might not know much about them.

Jacque is a lesbian and recovering alcoholic, whom we only get a glimpse of.
Dee is more of a free character, as she was exploring Australia as a backpacker which is symbolic of the liveliness and freedom in which the character represents. This character comes into the story when she is dumped by her boyfriend, leaving her broke with nowhere to go. She rudely invites herself on Baxter's boat, where questions about his past begin to arise. Usually I can tolerate English accents, but her sloppy speech irritated me, especially when she spoke for a long period of time. I understand that she was drunk, but it shouldn't take that long to sober up.

Baxter is the only character that went into detail. They mentioned some personal issues in others characters lives, but I didn't feel it had much relevance to the plot. Randomly, a boy would enter the stage between scenes, who we assume is a reflection of Baxter as a boy, when he begins to talk about his mother during the second half. The concept of the boy confused me at bit, it was not very clear.

In the beginning, they appear stagnant, like their lives aren't really going anywhere. I think it shows how you can live so close to someone, yet you may not truly know their history. There was no major event in the story. It was basically just the characters confessing events from their past.

Although I liked the set, I would have liked a change in scenery, but it remained the same throughout the entire show, apart from the end. The dialogue required the audience to listen quite attentively, but I couldn't help but zone in and out, as there was too much dialogue. I felt it was too much like a novel and did not capture the dramatic feel of a play.

The part I found most captivating was when Dee fell into the water and was being saved by Cole and Baxter. The audio and use of light were very effective in this scene. Dee appeared as if she were glowing under water. This was probably the highlight of the play; though I was disappointed nothing more really happened.

In the end, Dee sinks Baxter’s boat, ‘you’ll thank me later’ she had said. The sink of his boat was symbolic of the change in the character. I was quite amazed by how they were able to move the boat beneath the set.

 
I did not feel the play was appropriate for our age group. Swearing we can handle, but the adult themes did not relate to us. It was supposedly a 'comedy', yet the only way I knew if anything was supposed to be funny was when I'd hear others laughing. I felt the comebacks were too quick so it wouldn't give you enough time to process each line.

‘Rising water’ was really not my cup of tea. Winton is yet to master the art of playwriting, but he has potential.  Perhaps it would be more successful in the form of a novel?