Starring: Edelweiss Milroy & Yvonne Milroy
Written by: Edelweiss Milroy & Yvonne Milroy
Venue: Casa Del Edel
Season begins: 26 March 2020
Lockdown With Edey is a new work in a developmental phase. Perhaps it’s more mental than developmental. Time will tell.
The storyline follows a barren spinster (Yvonne) and her loyal but elderly cat (Edelweiss affectionately known as Edey) who find themselves trapped inside their home for a month during a global pandemic.
At first the pair struggle with the strict rules the Government has put in place. Yvonne is instructed to work from home. The frustrating establishment of her home office is a heart wrenching scene as she contends with technology and the realisation that she cannot race out to the mall to rectify the issues posed. Furthermore, Yvonne has an aversion to the kitchen. She must delve deep to rediscover her home cooking skills as all takeaways are forbidden in this strange new world.
Thankfully Yvonne is able to leave the house to fetch groceries, items from the vet for Edey and for exercise. Each day she goes walking through her neighbourhood and upon return regales Edelweiss with stories of her adventures. There are friendly greetings from strangers, beautiful messages written in chalk on the footpath and teddy bears in windows. Yvonne and Edelweiss install bears in their window too for children to look out for.
Yvonne provides the narration and Edelweiss provides the lighter moments. He is perfectly cast as the comedic sidekick. His performance is convincing, and his utter devotion to both Yvonne and his daily routines is extraordinary.
It is a pleasure to see Edelweiss in his element. I understand that he auditioned for Cats in 2008 but was told by the director that he “had the right look but wasn’t strong enough vocally.” Edelweiss’ depiction of a loyal friend is proof that one paw audition shouldn’t get in the way of following your dreams.
Although I wouldn’t class Lockdown With Edey as a musical, it has musical aspects. Yvonne plays the piano and sings occasionally. Together they watch endless musical theatre performances on YouTube. The incidental music for scene changes is lacking in theme and consistency. The work includes many well known songs from the 1980s alongside compositions from Beethoven and Tchaikovsky but also Joplin, Gershwin, and Vera Lynn. I believe the musical taste to be far too varied and unsettling for the usual theatre-goer due to the odd selections.
The set design is quirky. Mainly monochromatic, it is punctuated with raspberry, gold and pink tones. Most of the scenes are set in the open plan living area and the designer must be applauded for incredible attention to detail. Every item has its place, and the set seems reflective of the personalities and loves of both Edey and Yvonne.
Overall the costume design is inconsistent. Edelweiss participates in Formal Friday, an online movement started by television star Hilary Barry. Edey manages to showcase various formal ensembles that exquisitely compliment his natural white fluff. Apart from changing into clothes to visit essential services or go walking, Yvonne seems to swan about in pajamas from morning until night. She possesses an inordinate number of pajama combinations. I think her performance would have been more visually appealing with fitted attire. Perhaps Yvonne could participate in Formal Friday.
As the lockdown progresses, Yvonne realises that she prefers this new way of life. She begins to appreciate the quietness, making do with what she has at home, and the time to invest in her creative endeavours. Edey’s adjustment to this new way of living is seamless and he proves to be far more adaptable to change. Together they note that the lack of traffic noise is a blessing as is the slower pace brought about by the end of needing to rush from one event to the next. In a heart-warming moment, they realise that the planet seems to be healing too. The air is fresher, the birds are chirpier, the sky is bluer, the stars are sparklier.
Lockdown With Edey lends itself to a sequel, particularly to answer the questions of whether the pair are able to fully embrace the simpler life they hope to lead as a result of forced isolation. If the costumes and music choices could be improved, I feel this show would resonate with a wider audience.
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