Venus in Fur: Crawley actor blurring lines between reality and fantasy

A CRAWLEY resident is blurring the lines between fantasy and reality at Melville Theatre’s first production for 2018.

Grace Edwards is starring in Venus in Fur by US playwright David Ives, directed by Trevor Dhu.

The play is based on an 1870 novel by Austrian author Leopold von Sacher-Masoch, and was nominated for numerous Tony Awards when it was first staged in 2010.

The story goes behind the scenes at an audition in New York City, where a playwright (Thomas Dimmick) and actress (Edwards) cross between fantasy, reality, seduction and power, and argue about the meaning of the story.

Edwards described Vanda as ‘a fabulous enigma’.

“She turns up late to an audition and makes a terrible first impression; she’s scatterbrained, impulsive, clueless, crass and utterly desperate,” she said.

“But as soon as Vanda starts to read, she proves everyone wrong and completely embodies the sophisticated allure of her aristocratic character.”

Edwards said the main challenge was capturing all the sides of Vanda.

“Some transformations are gradual and escalate over the course of the play while others happen in an instant,” she said.

“I was fascinated by the spellbinding power dynamic between the two characters and the combination of darkness, sensuality and laugh-out-loud humour throughout.”

Venus in Fur plays at 8pm on February 16, 17, 21, 23 and 24 and March 1 to 3, with a 2pm matinee on February 25.

The play has adult themes and some coarse language.

Tickets are available at meltheco.org.au.

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