It's Tuesday night, a month out from winter and darkness falls quickly on Darlinghurst, bringing with it a biting cold air.
My feet move fast as I walk through the night, hands dug into pockets, head wrapped in the warmth of a woollen hat, I turn the corner into Nimrod Street and just 112 steps from my home (I counted them), I arrive at the door of the Stables Theatre.
This is what I love about living in Darlinghurst: 112 steps to a theatre, 153 to a bottle shop and a neat 200 to the closest pub.
Even so, there are very few people or events that could lure me into a theatre or a cinema, as I simply can't sit still for prolonged periods of time.
Tim Rogers, acting in a show, 112 steps from home, is one of them.
It was my gal-pal Ruby Molteno's plan to go to the theatre, really.
I can't take credit for such grand plans. The only plans I was thinking, was that it was so close to home, I could surely wear my pyjamas.
But I dressed like a normal person.
We bought a glass of wine each from the bar and then stood near the door sipping from our drinks while I quickly read up on what the play was all about.
I had to be careful not to cross this yellow dotted line at the theatre's doorway - or face the wrath of liquor licensing laws - as I read through the theatre flier for The Story of Mary MacLane By Herself, starring Bojana Novakovic and Mr Rogers:
"Promiscuous prophet or philandering fool? Mary MacLane is a woman you’d be mad not to meet.
"More than 100 years ago, The Story of Mary MacLane set America aflame.
"A shocking confessional from a 19-year-old girl who refused to succumb to the corset-bound prudery of her age, Mary’s scandalous memoir broke all the rules – and sold over 100,000 copies.
"Today, Ride On Theatre’s Bojana Novakovic and Tanya Goldberg bring Mary’s writings to the stage in a bold and magical ‘monologue for two’ backed with original music composed and performed by You Am I frontman Tim Rogers.
"The Story of Mary MacLane by Herself will whirl you through a kaleidoscopic tale of the greatest genius you’ve never heard of, defy you to look deep within and dare you to dance with the devil.
"WARNINGS: This production contains the use of a hazer and a herbal cigarette."
I liked the sound of Mary MacLane.
Any woman who writes scandalous memoirs has always appealed to me.
Just before 7pm, the woman who was working the bar stood up on a chair, invited everyone into the theatre and there was a rush for the entrance as all tickets are general admission: first in, best seated.
Ruby and I found a seat about three rows back from the stage.
Even if you find yourself in the back row, it doesn't matter: the theatre seats just over 100 people, making for an intimate theatre experience.
There was a lot of noise as people found seats and then the music - two minstrels playing a double bass and a violin - started up and Tim Rogers and Bojana Novakovic appeared.
I don't have any pictures of anyone as there is no photography allowed.
Novakovic, dressed in cream silk pantaloons and camisole, was Mary MacLane who, I discovered, was a Victorian-era Anais Nin or Djuna Barnes with a fixation on the devil.
She reminded me very much of my teenage self, without the satanic obsession, and as such was quite an indulgent, immature character; slightly irritating.
Rogers was the star for Ruby and I, as he swaggered about on stage in a large top hat and waistcoat - a 19th-century vaudevillian-style showman, whose musical interludes kept the pace of the show moving.
After it was over, the audience clapped, the performers bowed, and I walked the 112 steps to home.
After it was over, the audience clapped, the performers bowed, and I walked the 112 steps to home.
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The Story of Mary MacLane By Herself
Until 12 May
SBW Stables Theatre
10 Nimrod Street
Darlinghurst NSW 2010
02 9361 3817
www.griffintheatre.com.au
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I would have loved to have written about the history of this old building, which was presumably a stables many years ago, but could find absolutely nothing during my armchair research.
If you know any interesting historical facts about the building, please let me know.
