JUTE Theatre's latest production is a rollicking adventure through Queensland's most famous towns and locations, writes Jesse Kuch

What do you get when you cross a bunch of South American revolutionaries, Queensland Rail, Jesus in a jar of baby food and a slightly sinister Mr Whippy?

Cairns playwright Victoria Carless’s latest play at JUTE Theatre, that’s what.

Part madcap road trip, part side-splitting comedy and always wholly insightful, The Shining Path promises to be one of the best plays to hit Cairns this year and it is a fitting celebration of all things Queensland, as our state notches up 150 years.

The story centres around two old friends, Len and Dale, who were once briefly caught up in the revolutionary struggle in South America.

After parting ways and not seeing each other for decades, Len now works in the consumer complaints division of a large company with a special talent in answering phones.

Seemingly content with life, a spanner is thrown in the works when Dale shows up with a few confessions and harbouring a few guilty secrets as well.

Not long after, the pair embark on an insane train adventure through Queensland and along the way, learn about mateship, betrayal and redemption at the same time.

Peter says the reasons for him wanting to be part of the production were simple.

"I worked with Suellen Maunder, the artistic director of JUTE, on a production years ago called Bag Of Marbles," he says.

"Seven years later, here we are. The Shining Path is extremely theatrical but through all the madness and clowning, there is absolute honesty and beauty in there.

"In the production, we use all acting, lighting and the whole gamut of theatrical skills to bring it to life.

"I think people who are used to watching Neighbours, who talk with blank faces, will be impressed with how much energy the production has."

Peter says the production uses all sorts of theatrical tricks to give the illusion that the audience is really on the road with Len and Dale.

"We do it all kinds of ways," he says.

"There are shifts in lighting, music and all the different bells and whistles.

"It’s so theatrical, it’s almost like doing a film on stage.

"I think the audience will really come with us on the journey and I’m sure they’ll enjoy it."

Christopher says it took a lot of work and a few inventive ideas to pull off the production and give it a sense of movement and a feel of being a true road trip.

"It’s been an incredible challenge to bring this to the stage," Christopher says.

"One of the things we were thinking about on the weekend is that the play is so episodic.

"It’s got flash backs and new locations all the time. It’s easy to do this with film but we had to use other devices on stage.

"The train style set has lots of different places that Peter and Syd (Brisbane, who plays Dale) can go jump all over it, climb on it and act from it.

"The original score by John Goodson also gives the sense of travel and gives us links that propel us from one scene and draw us into the next."

Peter says the biggest challenge for him as an actor was coming to terms with his character, Len, and getting his mind around the actual style of the play.

"It goes from something out of Roadrunner to us doing War And Peace," he says with a chuckle.

"It’s a real challenge because you have your actor brain telling you that you can’t be an idiot and act like a three-year-old kid.

"But in the end, I had to let go of that because the character demanded it."

While a lot of the premise of the play is quite humorous, Christopher says it isn’t just about the laughs and instead explores themes of mateship, the journey of life and truth.

"It goes from an absurd, almost comic style to moments of complete naturalism," he says.

"We are always tempted to talk about the comedy of it but it’s interspersed with seriousness too.

"You’ve got these two incredibly funny performers who will make you kill yourself with laughing and suddenly it’s talking about very, very important things.

"Emotional stuff that men don’t normally say to each other.

"As a man, society says that you’re not supposed to discuss your feelings, but as the story unfolds, you really feel like you’ve touched a nerve and are in tune with something special.

"It’s very truthful and that’s what makes theatre experiences amazing.

"First, you’ve got comedy bits, which are light and filled with music, and suddenly you get this real emotional truth and because the people are there, they believe it."

Christopher says he thoroughly enjoys Cairns playwright Victoria Carless’s work and was happy she was so accommodating in bringing the story to life.

"Victoria came to see the play a long time ago and she was in complete tears of joy when she saw it," he says.

"She was around in the first week where we were analysing the script, picking it apart and if things didn’t work, she solved them for us.

"We had to rewrite a substantial part of the play, it’s been a bit of a process.

"That’s the thing with a new play, you just don’t know if it’s going to work until you try it.

"That’s the risk that JUTE takes with new playwrights and plays, but it’s a very exciting process where anything can happen.

"You can change the ending if you like, it’s a very collaborative thing that you never know what will happen until you’re in there."

Both Peter and Christopher agree in saying that they hope people enjoy the show and that they take something a bit deeper home from it.

"I hope people come away with those moments of truth and also a warm glow," Christopher says.

"I think it will help people understand how friendship can be wrecked and then brought back together again, even after a big amount of time and a big amount of hurt.

"We all make mistakes and all the characters that Len and Dale meet have made a big mistake in their lifetime and paid a heavy price for it.

"Often it’s the punishment that we give ourselves and although I’m not to get religious about it, when you confess and vocalise those hurts inside, sometimes it makes you stronger and we can move forward.

"The Shining Path is about mateship and what it means to have a friend and I hope people think about that when they leave."

>> The Shining Path runs from this Friday until Saturday, November 28, at JUTE Theatre, 96 Abbott St, Cairns, before beginning runs at Malanda and Port Douglas. Special opening night gala tickets, including dinner and the show, are available now for $49. General admission tickets to the rest of the sessions range between $17-$30 with special school discounts available. To book, phone TicketLink on 1300 855 835 or head online to their website www.ticketlink.com.au

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