You Got Older

What happens when your whole world is turned upside down, right before your eyes, in more ways than you can even count or comprehend?

Written by US playwright Clare Barron and directed by Red Stitch ensemble member, Brett Cousins, You Got Older is a black comedy that addresses the unique, terrifying stages of adulthood when everything you thought you knew turns out to be totally intangible.

Mae (Emily Goddard) has just returned home, to care for her father (Francis Greenslade) in his ailing health and to search for some recluse from a difficult period in her life. Whilst she navigates her surroundings and searches for deeper and more meaningful connections, she tends to retreat into her sexual subconscious – a place of fantastic imagination and adventure.

Australia’s leading ensemble theatre company, The Red Stitch Theatre, are presenting You Got Older from August 31st until October 1st. Milk Bar Magazine spoke to Brett Cousins and got into the nittiest and grittiest of questions to delve further into the story, and what the audience can expect.

A statement like this would resonate with a lot of people. Is this the kind of message you are looking to convey with play?

“I’m always itching to go do something else even when I’m in the middle of having a nice moment, it makes me feel guilty.”

Yes it will resonate with the audience and it’s one of several similar observations about life that will really fascinate people.  Clare Barron comes at this play with such a unique perspective about growing up and this particular quote is one of many examples of that.

What is it about Mae that you think the audience will like? What won’t they like? What do you think they will relate to the most?
Mae is retreating to her hometown to look after her ailing father, but her life has collapsed, even her body is rebelling on her, but she never stops trying and she never feels sorry for herself – she’s just a strong, independent and professional woman who we meet at the lowest point of her life – she’s just having a shit time. I think this will be instantly recognisable to anyone. What audiences might not like is how much we all seem to have in common with her – it can be uneasy.

If Mae has all of this happen to her at once, do you think there might be a certain element of self-destruction? Has she brought a little of this on herself?
Yes. I think there’s absolutely no doubt that Mae is unable to summon the fortitude to fight through her situation at the start at the play – so her father’s illness is an convenient excuse to retreat from it. Obviously we can ever only do that for so long.

Are there any other characters in the play you think we need to know about? What are their characteristics and why are they important?
There are many that I’ve fallen in love with as I have developed this piece – but perhaps they’re best kept as surprises.

I have gathered the impression that this is a comedy with a little bit of heart – not slapstick, so not hurtful or fun poking. What do you think it is about this comedy that makes it ‘tender’? Is there a little element of the characters trying to laugh at one another to lighten up the seriousness of life?
This is play has been described as simultaneously funny and punch you in the guts – I’d never experienced a script like this before. As we developed it, an emotional chasm has opened up beneath it – the comedy is vital but I’ve rarely seen a play with more emotional power.

How will the audience react to the ending? Shocked? Relieved? Happy?
I look forward to delivering to audiences a worthy ending and having them respond however they like.

What do you want the audience to be thinking about when they leave the theatre?
As long as they’re thinking something, I’ll be perfectly happy.

You Got Older
Red Stitch Actors Theatre, Rear 2 Chapel Street, St Kilda East
Saturday September 3 – Sunday October 2
redstitch.net/gallery/you-got-older