"Catalpa, the play, is a one person piece written by Donal O'Kelly and has been described as 'the most stunningly innovative piece of Irish theatre in recent years'. It is an ambitious actor's dream role, providing the opportunity to play a huge number of characters, a vast range of emotions and make difficult transitions, while telling an epic tale as if it were happening in your longue room. Des Fleming is the perfect candidate to play such a role (Irish heritage aside), as he embodies the spirit and characters, making the audience feel they are right there on the Catalpa with him.
From the moment Des jumped out of bed and transformed from frustrated screenwriter to high-flying seabird, the audience felt they were in the hands of a talented director and performer. Des Fleming is a rare talent of an actor, versatile, understated and powerful all at once. Alice Bishop did a wonderful job with an objective eye, dictating the momentum and tempo of the piece and staging it seamlessly. The original music and sound performed live by Wally Gunn is perfectly suited to the production and adds power to the story being told. ITCH Productions should be congratulated. There are many young companies in Melbourne trying to establish their place by producing quality, minimalist theatre, but it is rare to see one succeed to such a high standard as ITCH productions has done in its first attempt."

PAUL KOOPERMAN,
AUSTRALIAN STAGE ONLINE,
MAY 2008


"With it's themes of political revolt, dramatic escape and storms on the high seas, the voyage of the Catalpa is one of those rollicking adventures that would seem to be the product of a Hollywood scriptwriter's vivid imagination. In fact it's a true story and in the form of Donal O'Kelly's 1995 play, a captivating piece of theatre as well.
The story begins in the 1860's when the British Government sent a group of Republican Irish rebels to penal servitude in Fremantle prison, a daring plot is hatched to liberate them, and spirit them across the seas to freedom in America on the whaling ship Catalpa.
O'Kelly's one-man script frames the story as a modern-day screenplay being pitched to film producers. The narrator plays all the parts, including that of a wondering seabird. It's a tremendous piece of animateuring, and one that requires similarly tremendous skills on the part of the actor.
This show is a brave undertaking for fledgling company ITCH Productions. The role demands immense range and virtuosity from actor Des Fleming, and exceptional detail from director Alice Bishop. The production achieves both.
Fleming is at his best in the intimate moments; the poignant reflections of Captain George Anthony, the quiet voices of the women, and details in scene setting. There are fine moments in Alice Bishop's direction and Fleming is ultimately successful in bringing this entertaining play to the stage."

MARTIN BALL,
THE AGE,
MAY 2008


"It's a romantic notion many actors have about producing and starring in their own one-person show, to play to sell-out audiences and to feel the sense of accomplishment, respect for hard work and the ever important spotlight on them, onstage, for two hours. It is another thing to pull it off - and to pull it off with any degree of success is harder still!
Irish born actor Des Fleming, both the producer and actor (how does he do it?) in Catalpa, a seemingly epic story of " a little known chapter of Australian convict history", has not only acknowledged this romantic notion, but has executed it both on and off stage to bring an entertaining story about, what simply is, a man who has written a screenplay of the Catalpa story and wants it produced - you guessed it - in Hollywood of course!
Fleming plays many a character, the first of which is Matthew Kidd - the "writer" of the screenplay about George Antony, the captain of the whaling ship Catalpa and his long journey from East Coast America to Fremantle and back again.
Fleming gives a clean, polished and thoroughly engaging performance. His characterisations were tight and his presence was utterly refreshing. On what could have been an epic labour of verbal mumbo jumbo, Fleming made the characters his own, as well as keeping both the poignancy and the humour, that was laced throughout the script, as a fresh perspective. Dialogue was sometimes a little rushed, but always captivating. The production has quality, the mood enhancing music by Wally Gunn was all together beautiful and the direction - simple, restrained and effective. Refreshing theatre in Melbourne is a rare bird these days and this production of Catalpa is just that."

CHRIS THORPE,
ARTS HUB,
MAY 2008