A recipe for an entertaining and exhilarating ride, 'Mortido' is a crime drama, revenge tragedy and morality play rolled into one.
Starring AFI-winning actor Colin Friels, 'Mortido' is set in the streets of Sydney but ventures into the dark corners and alleyways of Germany, South America and Mexico. Drugs, dealing, gambling with your life: stories such as these are gaining popularity recent times. Because of this, Australian Writer's Guild Award-winning playwright, Angela Betzien, decided to write a thrilling and daring plot for her latest show.
Angela and Director Leticia Caceres have worked together many times in the last decade, culminating in Belvoir’s 2011 production of Betzien’s 'The Dark Room'; which won the 2011 Sydney Theatre Award for Best New Australian Work.
“I've gained a bit of a reputation for Australian gothic drama and I'm certainly fascinated with crime stories told in the theatre, because they have huge political potential and gives a good chance to look at our society and our economic system,” says Angela. “I have been quite influenced by some of the great television that has been coming out of the states in recent years, like 'Breaking Bad' and 'True Detective'.”
'Mortido' is a strong, powerful and engaging story which follows three individuals trying to gain an edge on the world around them – Jimmy (small time drug dealer), Monte (distributor) and Grubbe (detective). For Jimmy and Monte the aim is to cash in on the ever-vibrant Sydney drug scene. For Grubbe it is to nail one last drug syndicate before retirement.
The word 'Mortido' is explained by Angela as “often associated with libido. It's more about the death instinct or the instinct toward self destruction. And I guess the theme resonates with almost every character and embodies 'Mortido' in the play.”
The play is set in Sydney and its western suburbs, which seems to be the setting for a lot of the Australia's crime and drug stories that have been made into television series or films. “It was a love-hate letter to the city. It's a city that is alluring. It's very beautiful. It has glamour to it, but there is also this criminal underbelly.”
Colin plays Grubbe, and adds an experienced edge to the production and to his character. “Colin Friels is amazing. I very much wrote this play for him and then attempted to lure him to the role. He brings so much weight and experience to the role and the many roles he plays in this play. He plays a very hard-edged detective that is in pursue of a cocaine dealer. He does some really extraordinary things with this character.”
'Mortido' is sure to excite and encapsulate audiences' full attention. “There are some full-on themes in the play, but it's actually been a really fun, thrilling ride to rehearse. I hope and I believe it will be a really exciting, electric theatrical experience for the audience as well... I think [the audience] are going to enjoy Colin. I think they are going to enjoy the colour of it. It's familiar but unfamiliar and I think they will remember it for a long time.”
'Mortido' performs Adelaide Festival Centre 16-31 October and Belvoir St Theatre 6 November - 17 December
