Jodie Rimmer terrified but exhilarated by latest venture

Jodie Rimmer as faded rock chick Cynthia in The Jungle.

Jodie Rimmer has spread her wings away from the perceived glamour of the performing arts. Rimmer, who has been absent from the stage and screen for 18 months, has been studying for a Bachelor of Social Practice at Unitec, and doing voluntary work helping to run parenting courses. The only performing she has done is as Fairy Poppy, a flower fairy who entertains at children's parties.

"I love it. There isn't anything better than bringing hope and magic into little girls' hearts," she declares, which brings us to the subject of Rimmer's first stage appearance since 2002.

Far from a fairytale, it's a graphic urban tale of drugs, violence and general depravity called The Jungle. Written by Australian Louis Nowra, it plays out during one night in Sydney with 29 characters (portrayed by five actors) whose paths collide in settings as disparate as King's Cross alleyways and upmarket harbourside penthouse apartments.

It is the theatrical equivalent of films like Magnolia or Crash, and simulated drug use, explicit sexual references and violence mean The Jungle carries an R18 rating.

Rimmer plays faded rock princess Cynthia Page who saw vodka and pethidine replace hope and magic in her life many years ago; Gloria, a dressmaker who thinks a homeless girl is a gift to her from aliens; and Bev, Cynthia's cynical and scheming publicist.

It means swapping accents, costumes and attitudes within seconds to play women who are many years older than the lithe 31-year-old Rimmer.

She admits the prospect is simultaneously terrifying and exhilarating but takes comfort from director Cameron Rhodes who says actors do their best work when they are stretched.

That, she says, was the aim of taking a year off from her studies to return to acting. Up until 2004 Rimmer was kept busy starring as the man-hungry Kathryn in TV3's The Strip and with leading roles in the films In My Father's Den and Not Only, But Always.

"I was offered a lot of characters similar to the one I played in The Strip and I felt like I'd done that type of role so I was looking for something different, something I hadn't done in a while if at all."

The Jungle appealed because she has never played a character quite like Cynthia Page, loosely modelled on rock star Marianne Faithfull's failed 1970s tour to Melbourne before she entered rehab.

Somewhat advantageously, Rhodes has a sliver of insight into Faithfull's world. He met the rock diva in Paris when he was staying with his former drama school classmate Kerry Fox.

Rhodes says Fox suggested they visit Faithfull who just happened to be entertaining her good friend and fellow rehab survivor Carrie Fisher. Faithfull sang to them; Fisher told amusing stories.

Describing the visit as "a surreal experience", he says the two women were wonderfully funny and warm but definitely carried an aura of fame.

Like Rimmer, Rhodes says he enjoys Nowra's darkly humorous writing which makes directing the work a good deal easier.

"To be directing such a well-written play is hugely helpful because, to put it crudely, you do not have to push certain things uphill. You can trust the material and get on with bringing to life an excellent script.

"It is shocking because it deals with material that is confronting - prostitution, drug use, violence and people's odd sexual proclivities - but it's not shocking for its own sake. I wouldn't want to do it if that were the case. It's a commentary on human behaviour."

Silo director Shane Bosher discovered the script during a meeting with the Sydney Theatre Company several years ago to talk about its growth strategies.

The company's development arm commissioned The Jungle from Nowra. Bosher has been looking for the right time to stage the production ever since.

When Aidee Walker, the play's other female lead, approached him looking for work to expand her acting skills, Bosher decided Silo audiences were ready for The Jungle. Bosher says the play continues Silo Theatre's "commitment to presenting work which defines and articulates our contemporary experience".

As well as Rimmer and Walker, the play stars David Aston, Phil Brown and Eryn Wilson.

* The Jungle, Silo Theatre, April 20-May 20