Festen

Behind flowing champagne and decadent hors d’oeuvres, a family dinner party set at a wealthy estate is nothing without it’s own brand of secrecy and scandal. And now you get to watch the drama spill on the stage with Play Dead Theatre’s Festen, a reimagining of the cult-ish 1998 Danish flick. On show at the lush Rippon Lea Estate till Sunday, 22 July, Milk Bar Mag caught up with Michael Mack, who is both a producer and cast member, for a sneak preview.

Could you give our readers a sneak peek of what to expect if they attend the show?
Think of the worst family gathering you have ever had or even heard of. Times that story by 100 and you have Festen. 

You are wearing multiple hats in this production as a producer and member of the cast. How have you managed to balance the priorities of both roles?
It has not been easy. Preparation is key. I’ve spent a whole year on production, knowing I would also be in it. Having a strong director like Jennifer Sarah Dean and amazing stage manager Alyssa Hall, helps to keep the roles separate and manageable.

Assembling an ensemble cast with this size must be challenging. Can you talk to any challenges that arose in rehearsal?
Finding enough rehearsal space and aligning fifteen actors’ availability was a challenge but to be honest it could have been a lot worse. Everyone in the cast loves the play and have worked hard to make adjustments in their life to be involved. One cast member recently had a child and although he runs on very little sleep has never missed a rehearsal.

In 2016, you worked with director Jennifer Sarah Dean in Stephen Belber’s production, Tape. Tell us a little more about your working relationship with her. What strengths does she bring to the director’s chair? 
From the outside we may appear to be a strange pairing. Compared to myself, who many have described as dark and intense, you could say Jennifer is somewhat reserved and pragmatic. However, fundamentally we think the same way. When casting for Festen we would finish each other’s sentences or write down notes that were identical. We share an eye for what we think is good acting and good writing. As a director she commands a room, she knows what she wants but gives actors the freedom to play. Every actor I know who works with her desperately wants to work with her again.

It appears you’re drawn to black comedies that touch on taboo subjects. Do you believe there’s a limit to how far you can push the envelope on stage?
Yes. I have strong views on what is acceptable and what isn’t. I choose dark comedies purely for this reason because I believe it’s a safe way to touch on taboo issues, allowing an audience member to switch off and just focus on the comedy if its too much.

Rippon Lea Estate is one of Melbourne’s lavish and sprawling suburban estates, and would be the perfect setting for a gripping, multi-generational thriller. Did you always envision Festen to be set here?
The dream was to always have it in the Rippon Lea Estate Ballroom. I only pursed it after my friends and family kept mentioning it. I thought it wouldn’t be possible but it happened.

And, lastly, if you could sum Festen in three words, what would they be? 
Day of Reckoning.

This is one family dinner that cannot be missed.

Festen
Till Sunday, 22 July 2018
Rippon Lea House and Gardens, 192 Hotham Street, Elsternwick
ripponleaestate.com.au/event/festen