Play On

Even someone who knows as little about theatre as myself, is vaguely familiar with the plot of "Play On": A bunch of actors strive to present a locally-written play entitled, "Murder Most Foul". Everything that can go wrong, does.

This production was staged at St Norbert College's Xanten Performing Arts Centre (Queens Park, WA) on September 19-22 (2001). Not a school production, it nonetheless starred ten talented ex-students (and one no-show security guard).

The play opens with exasperated director, Gerry Dunbar, trying to restore order amongst her actors and crew. The play is a shambles and opening night is looming ever closer. Actress Kerry Dowson sat amongst the audience and pleaded, cajoled and threatened her ragtag team to DO IT PROPERLY! Kerry had a very strong stage presence and excellent delivery, considering many of her lines were delivered upstage, and many at the top of her lungs. An impressive performance - even more so when we consider Kerry was not in the best of health.

Dean Roepen played the Minor Deity of Dissatisfaction and Disgruntlement, travelled to Earth and masquerading as stage crew/sound operator. Almost a reincarnation of Joy Merryweather from "Drop the Dead Donkey", Dean exuded disdain for the warm props that kept getting in his way. Great fun every time he came on stage, with a winning punchline to end the show, but I felt a little more variety in his delivery would have been the icing on the cake.

The gorgeously cute Liz Carruthers played Stage Manager Aggie, watching with alarm as the show steadily spiralled out of her control. A great display of confidence turning into panic, but at times a little softly spoken. Despite her diminutive stature, Liz also presented a strong, "in control" (at least initially) presence.

The six "actors" worked well together and succeeded in being a crap group of actors. John Wall borrowed heavily from the Joey Tribbiani school of acting (if they ever need a replacement for Dr Drake Remora...) and wouldn't look out of place on the Bridge of the USS Enterprise. Daniel East presented the very best Neil McDonald impersonation I've ever seen, even so far as using one of Neil's photographs in the programme (except younger, and without all the grey). Excellent projection and enunciation as always Neil... err, Daniel.

Let me just go on record and thank Brad Habib publicly for the sterling job he did as sound operator at the ITA's recent YouthFest. Brad played Lord Dudley, who didn't have an awful lot of lines, but succumbed to the curse of spoonerism in the terrifying "Opening Performance" (said in a really spooky voice to make it all spooky, like). A little quiet at times, but wonderful horrified expressions as he found his tongue going places his brain never wanted it to go (sort of like Dean Schulze, but without the inevitable resultant court inquiry).

Elaine Wambeck played Lady Dudley. Elaine has the biggest eyes I have ever seen on stage. Wonderful, wonderful expressions of outrage whenever any of the other characters said anything... at all. Great delivery, timing and projection, Elaine has "haughty" down to a fine art. Tabitha Nicholls has "stilted delivery" down to a fine art - intentionally. When portraying Diana Lassiter, guest of Lord Dudley, the-lines-flowed-like-bricks-don't. Even funnier, as the play collapsed around them, and no-one knew whose line was next, Tabitha stared wide-eyed (as one does when the headlights pick you out) before deciding on grinning inanely at the audience. Lovely comic, non-vocal technique.

Simone McMahon played Doris the Maid. More laughs on "Opening Night" (scary voice again) as everything Simone did or said was delivered at 100 miles per hour. However, the rest of the time, her projection did need lifting. Jonathon Bradford rounded out the cast as author Phillip Montague. The butt of many a joke, Phillip personified all those people in theatre with Grand Ambitions but no sense of reality. A nice impression of a whiny child who wants everything his own way.

Whoever coined the phrase,
"Those who can... do;
Those that can't... teach."
Was not thinking of Kerri Hilton. Teacher, director, superstar, I have no doubt that Kerri pulled these raw talents together and moulded an enjoyable, hilarious production, through experience, dedication and a damn good eye for comedy. I am sure that Kerri (with help from Trish) constructed the sturdy (but deliberately shaky-looking) set, put together most of the costumes (including the eye-catching see-through frock and Elaine's convincingly deceptive fat suit) and organised props, lights and sound. Yes the actors were good, but were a variety of ages, experiences and backgrounds, yet Kerri pulled them together into a cohesive cooperative force (sort of like the Superfriends, but without action figure spin-offs). I don't know anything about directing, but his was tight, the actors all had their moment, they never looked cramped or clumsy (except when they were supposed to) and everything worked as it should have. As far as I could tell.

Audiences should not be dissuaded from what they perceive to be school shows. And if this all sounds like a damn fine night's entertainment, and it's a pity you missed the show, then keep an eye out for the next one. Or else get down to the Old Mill Theatre in South Perth and see their version of this quite hilarious comedy. It should be compulsory viewing for anyone involved in theatre.

JB