Lashings of Whipped Cream
Maidment Theatre - Musgrove Studio, Auckland
03/06/2006 - 24/06/2006
Production Details
By Fiona Samuel
Directed by Conrad Newport with Sara Wiseman
Set Designer: Rachael Walker
Presented by A Lethal Set
Following a sell-out season at Wellington’s Downstage Theatre, A Lethal Set is proud to present Lashings of Whipped Cream, by Fiona Samuel.
The Maidment Studio is transformed into a bondage and discipline dungeon as the audience spends an hour with Mistress Dominque, a suburban dominatrix. While Mistress Dominique reveals the secrets of her profession (and her clients), the audience learns much more than the tricks of the trade. In between customers, the audience becomes her confidante, as she reveals her own demons and desires, and the story of her life.
Funny, tender and always surprising, starring Sarah Wiseman (Mercy Peak, Shortland Street, The Women, Proof), Lashings of Whipped Cream is a theatrical close encounter, a one-on-one session with one of life’s survivors.
A Lethal Set was established in 2003 as vehicle for director Heath Jones. Since then it has produced six productions, including an extremely successful season of David Auburn’s Proof, starring Sara Wiseman. A Lethal Set’s most recent production, The Return by Reg Cribb, showed yet again that the company could produce cutting-edge theatre that both engages and captures the minds of the audience.
Dates: Sat 3 – Sat 24 June, 7.30pm
Venue: Maidment Studio, 8 Alfred St, Auckland University, City
Tickets: Adults $29 Conc./Groups 10+ $22
Bookings: The Maidment (09) 308 2383
Sarah Wiseman
Theatre , Solo ,
Delicious whipping
Review by Kate Ward-Smythe 09th Jun 2006
Sara Wiseman is delicious as Mistress Dominique, giving a flawless, highly entertaining performance to her enthusiastic opening night audience.
Strutting on stage dressed in leather from head to toe, she is almost unrecognisable as the Sara Wiseman many will remember from her television roles (Mercy Peak, Serial Killers, Jackson’s Wharf).
The same could be said of the Maidment Studio as, thanks to Set Designer Rachael Walker, Mistress’s dungeon, full of toys and devices, has taken over.
Wiseman is a treat to watch as she shares the secrets of her suburban dominatrix career and the fetishes of some of her more colourful clients. At ease with her perfectly formed kiwi twang, mannerisms and general demeanour, she is so relaxed in Mistress’s "Skin", you’d be forgiven for thinking she was the real thing.
A true mark of Wiseman’s commitment and focus as an actor can be seen through her effortless ad-libs, as she dealt with no less than 3 cell phone interruptions throughout the show.
When an actor is this confident yet natural, it is easy not only to enjoy the performance, but also become involved without feeling vulnerable. In this regard, Wiseman quickly has us eating out of the palm of her hand (figuratively of course, as no bodily contact above the boots is permitted) and many members of the audience willingly share their fantasies, holding out their hands for more. In turn Mistress reveals more about herself.
If you want to really maximise your session with Mistress, book a seat up front and centre. From there, you’ll benefit fully from the inclusive nature of Lashings, as the audience becomes Mistress’s confidante for much of the hour.
Fiona Samuel’s writing is so easy to digest: on the one hand hilarious and bold with the subject matter, yet on the other, honest and insightful, as Mistress exposes some of her youthful experiences and thoughts on human nature. Through Mistress, Samuels gives her audience much to ponder on, from our desire for comfort, to the drive behind our fantasies.
Lashings is neat and tidy in its structure, well directed by Conrad Newport, brilliantly performed, and a hugely enjoyable night out. It is easy to see why Lashings sold out in Wellington last year. It deserves to do the same in Auckland.
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