One of many original works being offered with this year’s Melbourne Fringe Festival was Smother by acclaimed emerging playwright Zadie Kennedy Mccracken that premiered at the Explosive Factory (once a Fireworks Factory) St Kilda.
This venue, entering from a back lane and up a long staircase is a neat “Black Box” style of performance space, unfortunately without any wheelchair access.
Zadie Kennedy Mccracken not only is on stage for Smother, but also produces and directs as a creative, whereby exploring narrow-minded injustice, queer intimacy and the politics of desire. Most of Zadie’s work is about love and what to do with it.
Directed by Ruby Rees, three poignant words explain the work, Bittersweet, Exciting and Romantic, while exploring the consequences of controversial love.
A bare stage welcomed us with Christine played by Zadie Kennedy Mccracken, standing solitary centre stage, warming up with the occasional silent acknowledgement of patrons arriving.
Enter Rebecca played by Jo Jabalde, best friend of Christine’s, although there appears to be more to it as the work progresses. However, the work is really held together by Christine’s 20-year-old Dylan played by Cian Morgan, who captures every moment of the dialogue with great expression, energy and vitality.
Christine is an overbearing Mum who Dylan is stuck living with, Sick with heartbreak, Dylan continues to explore what it means to be a man and the experiences of transitioning.
Cian Morgan’s performance gave much life and meaning to this work, and one should follow her future stage performances.

• Review by Graeme McCoubrie