May 29, 2011
Adelaide
Theatre
BRIEF

The Zoo Story
by Edward Albee
State Theatre Company of South Australia
Space Theatre, Adelaide Festival Centre.
May 27. Tickets  $ 18 – $30. Bookings : BASS 131 246
Until June 4.    SA Regional tour June 7 -23.
School bookings : 08  8415 5333.

Edward Albee’s tension-filled one act, two-hander from 1958, The Zoo Story,  reminds us, if we needed it,  that primitive animal instinct extends to human beings as well. Peter, a well-to-do New Yorker, is enjoying his solitary bench in Central Park when he is interrupted by Jerry, a troubled loner with a lot on his mind and plenty of intrusive questions.  Very soon  the parry and thrust of dialogue extends to the struggle for territory, entitlement, status  and personal vindication. Excellent, often sinister, performances from Renato Musolino (Jerry),  and Brendan Rock (Peter)  are tautly directed by Catherine Fitzgerald, with an evocative New York City design, in browns and moody greens, by Cassandra Backler. Scheduled especially for schools performances, The Zoo Story brings a confronting American absurdist classic to new audiences .

Murray Bramwell

The Australian, May 29, 2011.