Posing the confronting yet important question of ‘what does it cost to be human’, Martyna Majok’s captivating play 'Cost Of Living' is a beautiful experience that will tickle at your brain for hours after the curtain falls.
The Melbourne Theatre Company production of this Pulitzer Prize-winning script is captivating from the moment a single spotlight falls on Aaron Pedersen as he brings to life the character of Eddie – equal parts abrasive and heartfelt in his delivery. Eddie’s opening monologue sets a very human tone for the show; there will be moments of light and moments of dark, just like there are in the arc of every single life. This is the wonderful balance that the show achieves, a truly honest depiction of life – and that life is never just good or bad, happy or sad, no matter the adversity faced by each of us.
As the lighting lifts, the audience is welcomed to a stunning living room belonging to wealthy PhD candidate, John. John, who is played by Oli Pizzey Stratford, is a harsh and stern individual, perhaps a defence mechanism developed from navigating the world as a disabled person and facing the brutality that this can bring. But as he meets Jess, played artfully by the captivating Mabel Li, it’s clear that there is a kind and soft side to his personality, teamed with a naïve ignorance, despite all his education.
Image © Pia Johnson
The dance between the characters of Jess and John explores the ways that experiencing the harshness of this word can teach people life lessons in different ways, and that they can choose how they share these through their actions. Their story arc builds to be far more heart-wrenching than expected and it is the chemistry between these two fantastic actors that helps to make that feeling tangible as the show unfolds. A scene in which Jess showers John is truly a stand-out moment in the show, presenting the normalisation of care as an exchange between humans. The use of silence in this scene is both powerful and normalising at once.
The show pivots between the story of Jess and John and back over to Eddie as he spends time with his estranged wife Ani, navigating life with a newly-acquired disability. Rachel Edmonds plays Ani, and it truly is a phenomenal portrayal. The way they bring the character to life, believably switching between brutality and more gentle moments is just so wonderfully human, once again – like so much of this show. As the relationship between Eddy and Ani plays out, not only are we offered an insight into their lives in this moment, but also the moments that led to it – raw, real, and relatable in their honesty.
'Cost Of Living' gives the audience the chance to explore feelings of loss and loneliness while pondering how our own lived experiences might influence the ways in which we navigate challenging moments, and how our navigation of these might impact those around us. This is a wonderful show that celebrates the joy and gentle beauty of life for all those who are just ‘getting through’ it, and ruminates on the tougher moments, giving them the room to breathe.
