Big Errol Rides Again

Hello friends, I have to tell you about my new directorial challenge, for which I am hoping to garner your invaluable support. Fremantle’s Harbour Theatre Inc has engaged my services to direct the contemporary Australian play, 'Errol Flynn’s Great Big Adventure Book for Boys' by Rob George. Performances will be at Princess May Theatre in Fremantle from 11 to 26 July 2008. Described as “A musical comic book look at the comic book life of Australian film legend Errol Flynn from childhood in Hobart through white slave trader in New Guinea and finally to tragic Hollywood has-been”, the play is “taken almost entirely from official records and Flynn's own writing. (It) explores the love/hate relationship Flynn had with his own screen image, and the way that he was both encouraged and condemned in it”. “Rob George’s excellent script does this with humour, sadness, and rage." While the play itself is relatively new to me, the subject matter is not, nor is the playwright. I have owned a well-thumbed copy of 'My Wicked, Wicked Ways' by Errol Flynn, for many years. I first met Rob George at rehearsals for Adelaide Uni Law Revue 1972, 'Superman – Deaf In One Ear'. Rob was director, I was a lowly stagehand and musician. From that show, we ended up with numerous mutual friends, including up and coming actor/writer Steve J Spears, and a fresh-faced callow youth named Mark Holden. Thereafter, I followed Rob’s subsequent career from an ever-increasing distance, mainly via those mutual friends from Adelaide. Our acquaintance was renewed last year in the sad circumstances of the untimely passing of Steve J, whose play 'If They Send Me Three And Fourpence' was at the time before the Harbour committee as my submission for this very season. While appreciative of the quality of that play and the status of Steve as a playwright, Harbour asked me if I had another of similar standard but with a catchier title. That led me to Rob’s door. The rest is history. Thus, I am sure Rob and I would wish to dedicate this production to the memory of Steve, a great talent and a truly inspirational character. May he smirk benignly on it. Finally, by my calculations, there are about 60 different characters in this play. The first professional production in 1978 had 4 male and 3 female actors plus a musician. I expect to be using a much bigger cast, although obviously some actors will have to take on multiple roles. I also have big ideas about a small on-stage band. Luckily, I think I know of one that is available! Auditions are on Thursday night 1 May 2008, 7 pm at the theatre. Keep watching the ITA website for further details.