Linh in Melbourne - Short and Sweet; theatre

In 2001, Sydney writer/director Mark Cleary created 'Short and Sweet', a series of theatre performances to showcase the best new writers, actors, directors and independent theatre companies in Australia and the world, also giving new talent an opportunity to surface.

'Short and Sweet' is a competition where applicants present a season of original short plays of ten minutes or less that reflects quality writing, performance and production skills.

Mark Cleary's aim of making theatre more accessible and affordable to a wider audience has been realised as 'Short and Sweet' has become the biggest short play festival in the world.

In 2007, the festival assessors received a staggering 1141 scripts from 12 different countries including Germany, Singapore, Canada and Finland. The Melbourne season of 'Short and Sweet' runs for three weeks with ten plays from the 'Top Thirty' performed four times a week and 'Wildcard' entries to be performed as a one-off during each week.

Bite Size Theatre by Linh

Being in Melbourne for a week, I was fortunate to attend week one of the 'Short and Sweet' competition.

It was refreshing and entertaining to see such diverse talents and skills on display.

However, some of the plays were bordering on ludicrous to sicko, while others were insightful, poignant and humourous.

An exciting aspect of 'Short and Sweet' is audiences who attend the performances can vote for their favourite play, and the winning plays will receive cash from a $20,000 prize pool and other development opportunities for their production.

The standout plays that satisfied my theatrical appetite are:

Michael Goes Home directed by Jae Dee Scott and written by Melbournian Bridgette Burton, is about a young former drug addict who has completed his time in prison and hopes to reunite with his parents.

It's a moving, and engaging human drama with great performances from a cast of four.
Mick Lo Monaco plays the estranged junkie prodigal son, Michael, with gentle charm and warm appeal. Ian Rooney gives a strong performance as the unforgiving and deeply hurt father whose lost faith in his only son. Liz McColl is exceptional as Michael's long suffering mother who is willing to give her son another chance. Devon Lang Wilton gives a subdued performance as Michael's girlfriend Tracey.

Thrilling Hostage Melodrama at High Speeds With Pineapple directed by Heath Miller and written by Adam Hadley, is an hilarious, fast-paced action thriller with fruit, guns and two female hostage takers preparing to kidnap someone.

This is a brilliant take on the Quentin Tarantino films but it's done with a feminine touch. Sheridan Harbridge is superb as the overly excited and eager to please kidnapper-in-training, Gills, whose short term memory creates havoc for her partner in crime and brings on the laughs. Robynne Kelly needs to give her character Junie, more punch and vigour yet her cool as a cucumber approach is an apt contrast to Gill's impromptu displays of lunacy.

Bury Your Goldfish directed by Jonno Katz and written by Michelle Wallace, is a visually beguiling display of hand painted cardboard props accompanying a delightful monologue.

This is a family friendly theatre performance where the colourful props, designed by Justin Caleo, represent physical, emotional and funny elements from the monologue in story-telling and re-enacting events. Evie Katz narrates the entire play, while Emelia Symington Fedy and Nicola Gunn portray the fish Itchy and Scratchy respectively. A highly imaginative and inventive play that suits the short form but may become tiresome if stretched to a full production of two hours.