Rosievile, Canberra Youth Theatre, Courtyard Studio, Canberra Theatre, 29 Sept-8 Oct

Mary Rachel Brown is tied to Canberra theatrical legend, with her play "A Streetcar named Datsun 120Y" being one of the triumphs of the late 90s/early 200s run of Elbow Theatre, one of the great independent theatre companies that never quite became a permanent fixture in Canberra's theatre scene but never the less maintains a place in theatregoers memories and their hearts. Returning 20 years later to Canberra, she presents a play that has considerable charm though clearly still needs a little more development.

The problems with "Rosieville" sit strangely at the centre and at the top of the play - the ostensible narrative is from the perspective of Rose, a pre-teen young woman whose family is going through disruptions and who is surrounded by neighbours and other characters with their own dramas, who starts interacting with a pigeon who declares itself her spirit animal. At least in this production, the pidgeon is presented with goofy music and some messy physical comedy, meaning it's difficult to retain interest in this element of the plot - it feels like it's talking down to the audience in ways the rest of the show doesn't. 

Fortunately, the narratives surrounding it, from Rose's mother's attempts to reach out to her daughter, to her neighbour's attempt to get her brother interested in a revival of the Birdman rally, to the challenges involved in raising racing pigeons, to one particularly dodgy haircut, are far more engaging. It's a pity there's a bit of a hole in the centre of this production because it's clear Brown is a strong writer with a great ear for dialogue, but one who hasn't quite got their ideas in a final useable form yet for this play. 

This show has an unusual mix for CYT, with two adult performers interacting with five youth performers in parental and mentor roles - both Amy Crawford and Richard Manning mix well with the young performers. There are some strong moments of staging here, particularly the climactic Birdman rally, and some powerful moments of the heart. But it comes in a very uneven package that could have used some further polish or a refocus.