REVIEW: Darwin’s Fair Punishment offers a strange and terrifying twisty tale

The gothic show Fair Punishment immerses audiences in a raw and shocking story filled with complex emotions and stunning talent.

The gothic production Fair Punishment at Brown's Mart Theatre featuring Merylnn Tong (left) and Nicky Fearn.

It is difficult to capture the disquieting feelings brought on by experiencing the ups and downs of the newest tale being told at Darwin’s Brown’s Mart Theatre.

But if you are brave enough to face the twists and turns of human nature in Fair Punishment, you will be rewarded with a remarkable immersive experience that will long live on in your mind.

The gothic production put together by Brown’s Mart and Business Unusual, is based on the book ‘La petite fille qui aimait trop les allumettes’ by Canadian novelist Gaétan Soucy.

Adapted by co-writers and local performers, Nicky Fearn and Gail Evans, it begins in a crumbling estate with two isolated siblings who know only a life under their authoritarian father.

The two siblings played by Nicky Fearn and Thomas Midena wear full face masks. Credit: Gail Evans

However when things change suddenly, they are forced to explore the world outside of their home for the first time.

Through their experiences with the nearby town and a miner played by Melanie Mununggurr, they discover the history of their existence is very different from what they believed.

An emotionally raw story in an otherworldly setting

The ruined scene is masterfully staged.

Using worn beige sheets and materials, moving parts and hidden pockets, the audience is straight away immersed in a ruined and removed estate which appears to hold many tucked away secrets.

The neutral colours and frayed state of the staging and costumes from Dann Barber conveys the otherworldly state in which the siblings live without detracting from the violent and unsettling emotions being displayed in the story.

In a brave move, the two siblings, played by Nicky Fearn and Thomas Midena, wear full-face masks.

The old theatrical form was very effective in showing the siblings separation and strange culture and Fearn and Midena’s controlled body language added a mesmerising quality to the show.

Merylnn Tong was captivating as narrator. Credit: Gail Evans

It worked powerfully alongside the narrator Merylnn Tong who was simply unnerving in her brilliance.

Showing the inner working of one of the sibling’s mind, Tong was passionate and slightly unhinged as she narrated the story not shying away from making feverish eye contact with the audience.

Together with Fearn, the duo presented a beautifully united and moving journey.

‘Do not miss this twisty tale’

The constant and creative use of lighting, illustrative projection and sounds – which at times made it feel like there was an echo – cemented the immersive story and kept the audience guessing.

Award-winning director, Susie Dee, and the creative team have created a truly bizarre and dark world.

Fair Punishment is showing at Brown Mart’s Theatre until Saturday May 24. Credit: Gail Evans

The storyline is easy to follow but not obvious or predictable and while the script has a few odd modern phrases, it manages to follow an older and quirky language.

Due to its dark subject matter, the production could be triggering for some and is not for everyone.

But for those who enjoy exploring the murky depths of humanity in an eerie setting, do not miss this twisty tale.

Fair Punishment is showing at Brown Mart’s Theatre from Tuesday May 13 to Saturday May 24. Click to find out more information or to purchase tickets.