20 Questions – Belvoir

Overview

Everyone loves a good chat, and who wouldn’t love a chat about life’s big questions with charming director Wesley Enoch? But a chat in front of a packed main stage theatre under a glaring spotlight? This is a tete-a-tete for a special kind of performer.

20 Questions is the handiwork of Enoch and Eamon Flack. A surprise Indigenous guest will brave the upstairs theatre to answer Enoch’s questions every Monday night until mid-August. The performer has been briefed that they are to answer questions but has no idea what the questions will be. The questions range from “are you happy?” to “do you get sick of white guilt”, with a range of fun and reflective questions in between.

iPad in hand, Enoch sets the example as a generous host, requesting our full support of the guest at the top of the show. Twenty-five-year-old Casey Donovan steps through the gold curtains onto the stage in stilettos. The crowd applauds. She’s nervous, we’re nervous. The questioning begins.

If you've ever seen Donovan sing, or were lucky enough to see her in the 2010 production of The Sapphires (directed by Enoch), you’ll know she is comedic, soulful gold on stage, but we don’t get the best of her in this setting. Enoch’s structure relies heavily on the guest’s improvisation skills, which Donovan doesn't quite bring to the floor, answering many questions with coy evasion. When Enoch invites her up to the mic to sing, it’s a relief and a pleasure to hear the phenomenal voice that launched her into the public domain at age 16 on Australian Idol. Her singing is the highlight of the evening.

This talk show/counselling session is probably better suited to a cabaret setting than the main stage and would also suit cabaret prices. It feels odd that an unrehearsed Q&A with a minimal set would warrant full-price tickets. At bare minimum, the show is a nice chance to reflect on what your own answers to Enoch’s questions would be. It’s always nice to think about death, for example.

It’s difficult to assess the merits of the show given the guest will be different each Monday. Enoch has certainly undertaken a high-risk enterprise with so much relying on the individual guest. No doubt with a more seasoned performer up in the spotlight, it could make for a wild, heartfelt ride.