2 Weeks until The Doll!

Only 2 weeks until The Doll opens! Be quick! Special Preview: Thu 27 July 8pm - ALL TIX JUST $12!!! Special discounts for entire season also available for MEAA and FTI members! CLASS ACT THEATRE IS PROUD TO PRESENT… Ray Lawler’s Summer of the Seventeenth Doll Australia's most famous play! directed by one of Perth’s most likeable, loved and decorated luminaries, Edgar Metcalfe AM In the days before mechanical harvesting, two sugarcane cutters, travel south every summer for the lay-off, like bronzed 'eagles flying south out of the sun'. In the seventeenth year of this unusual arrangement between Roo, Barney, Olive and Nancy, a metamorphosis is inevitable… “The play still throws light on the sad process of fading dreams. Lawler’s rough and ready characters – Olive, Nancy, Roo and Barney – are the cornerstone of our national drama” Graeme Blundell First staged in 1955, it has just enjoyed its 50th anniversary. The play has long been a High School syllabus text, and continues to be one of Australia's most successful theatrical exports. When it first opened on the West End in London it played to rave reviews for 7 months and won the Evening Standard's Play of the Year award. Many regard it still as Australia’s greatest play. Mr Edgar Metcalfe, who is directing says… "it is Australia's most famous and historically significant play and should be done regularly". Recent WAAPA graduate, Cherie Gillinder, is designing set and costumes. http://cheriegillinder.atspace.com The always working Aaron Stirk is lighting designer. The main cast is excellent, all having significant track records… Geoff Kelso (Barney) won the 2003 Equity Guild Best Actor Award; the 1991 Swan Gold Best Actor Award; and the 1977 National Theatre Best Actor Award (WA); and regularly plays in Black Swan and Perth Theatre Company productions. Dan Luxton (Roo) was nominated for a best actor award at the Equity Guild Awards (recognising professional excellence) in 2003. Helen Doig (Olive) has a number of significant film credits including the feature film Mall Boy. Angelique Malcolm (Pearl) is the artistic director of Class Act and its driving force. Maggie Anketell, another doyen of the Perth stage, will play Olive's mother, Emma, a 'wizened life-battered wisp of a woman, with no illusions about humanity, expecting the worst from it, crowing with cynical delight when her expectations are fulfilled'. 22 year old Bubba will be played by newcomer Miley Tunnecliffe, and the new stallion in the paddock, Johnny Dowd will be played by Seton Pollock (Cloudstreet). Most of the cast has worked with one another at one time or other, so the ensemble feel of this production will be palpable. Interestingly enough, Helen, Angelique and Dan have known each other for about 17 years... Class Act Theatre Incorporated, has a track record of producing twelve years of successful schools theatre, and now three continuous years of profile mainstage shows – Macbeth, Othello, Hotel Sorrento, Twelfth Night, and Lysistrata. (Past reviews www.classact.com.au) Venue: The Rechabites Hall, 224 William Street, Northbridge, from July 27 to Aug 12. Previews: Thu 27 July 8pm (all tix $12) and Fri 28 July 8pm Open: Sat 29 July 8pm Season: Tues - Sat, 8pm (till Sat Aug 12) Daytime matinees: Mon 31 July @10am ; Tue 1 Aug @10am ; Mon 7 Aug @10am ; Sat 12 Aug @2pm TICKETS THROUGH BOCS: 9484 1133 $24/$16/$14.90