Sydney Reviews

An antithesis to the cashed-up boomer.

This play tells the sad story of Rose Grey whose life revolves around The Lark, a small pub in an inner-city, working-class suburb of Melbourne.

Rose’s father acquired the pub as a returned serviceman from World War 2 through an unspecified, dodgy deal. He renamed the pub after the magpie lark, a common native bird that his daughter grew to love. Rose was born there and lived with her father in The Lark’s small, upstairs rooms for most of her life.

Rose is now aged in her 70s. No longer trading, recently sold, and destined for demolition, Rose can’t help herself from haunting The Lark’s lonely space, night after night, reliving her life story. It’s a life devoid of aspiration or entitlement. A working-class girl, abandoned by her mother and unengaged by education, her story is unromantic and without regret or self-pity.

She grew up in the pub and worked behind the bar from a young age. She managed The Lark when her father became frail, while also nursing him in the rooms upstairs.

While the premise lacks obvious dramatic tension, national treasure, Noni Hazlehurst brings Rose and The Lark to colourful and compelling life in this one-woman show.

Emily Barrie’s set perfectly evokes the modest, mid-century space with its dark wood bar and tinted mirrors. However, there could have been a stronger connection with the audience if this touring set was placed further downstage in the IPAC theatre.

There are strong themes of loneliness and isolation in old age among both the patrons and proprietors of The Lark. In our time, narratives of intergenerational equity and fairness can easily overlook the reality of many of the lives in our ageing population. Keane’s script touches this point gently.

There is nothing didactic about The Lark and it’s dream-like rhythm and structure lets our own thoughts and reactions emerge in their own time.

The Lark is an Arts Centre Melbourne and Hey Dowling production, presented in Wollongong by Merrigong Theatre company.