Hot girl-on-girl action!
Mon, 26 Nov 2001, 12:51 amWalter Plinge7 posts in thread
Hot girl-on-girl action!
Mon, 26 Nov 2001, 12:51 amThere ya go, for Craig's benefit I included a tautology in the title.
The Australian Wedding Play (we're not allowed to utter its name)
Kalamunda Dramatic Society (WA)
Remaining season Nov 28 - Dec 8
From all reports, this production has been through hell (which is why we're not allowed to mention its cursed title), and, by some little-understood Einsteinian modification, has emerged out of the other side to stand as a bloody funny show.
It's a very simple plot: The night before her wedding, a bride and her two bridesmaids stay in a hotel (with the bride's mother in the room next door); everything's going well until suspicions are aroused about the groom's fidelity....
It all sounds very girly, and handled wrongly it could have come across as a two and a half hour episode of Neighbours (except for all the f***ing swearing). However, playwright Elizabeth Coleman has crafted a wickedly funny comedy (we know this 'coz it says so on the front of the programme). There are indeed some very funny lines but it still could have fallen flat if it wasn't for the superb ensemble cast.
Peta Newland.... sorry, Higson, was a vision playing soon-to-be-wed Meg. On stage for most of the production (particularly an exhausting Act 2), this is most definitely the best performance I've seen from her. Displaying all the nervousness and excitement of a bride-to-be, her energy was rerouted and channelled into apprehension and anger as the story progressed. Also, I've always thought that Peta moves more sensuously that just about anyone I've seen. I don't think she's a dancer, but she still tends to glide effortlessly about a room. Just lovely.
Amanda Ford played Meg's oldest friend, Angela (how confusing was that, since Peta played an "Angela" in her last production.) Angela married the first man she slept with, and is rather naive and inexperienced - easy prey for the cutting barbs and sarcasm of the other characters. However, Amanda's timing and delivery was excellent making her the character you want to laugh at, rather than laugh with (but in a nice way). Amanda did a lovely job of portraying perhaps the most likeable of the characters.
Di Graham came across well as Meg's uptight mother, Colleen. Someone told me they were worried about Di's English accent clashing with the younger Australian girls, but it never bothered me. Colleen obviously had English parents and developed her accent at a young age before coming to Australia. Daughter Meg obviously grew up here, adopting an Australian accent as she did so (maybe her father was Australian). JMHO, but I think people put too much stock in accents (but of course, I'd say that....). Much was made of Meg's annoyance at her mother's controlling influence, and I thought that could have been brought out a bit more. Colleen didn't seem the bitch she was occasionally described as, and maybe there could have been a bit more tension in the first ten minutes or so. Just my thoughts.
Although holding the audience's attention from the start, the production REALLY took off with the entrance of bridesmaid Lucy, played by the stunning Julia Dalby. Lucy calls a spade a spade and is the sort of friend we all know and want. She's 100% loyal but says the things that we wish we could say, or does what we deep down want to do, if only we weren't held back by our own inhibitions. Meg's mother doesn't approve of Lucy, and Lucy doesn't give a damn.
Julia raised the bar for naturalistic acting (if there is such a thing, bearing in mind my self-confessed ignorance of theatrical technique). Not once did she look like she was "acting". Every line (and what rippers some of them were!) seemed the most natural thing in the world. It was marvellous how she changed her intonation or delivery without missing a beat, depending on who she was talking to, when addressing several people at once. And her facial expressions! She had the audience in hysterics with just the tilt of an eyebrow or the quiver of a lip. Several people in the audience commented that the role had been written for her, and I wouldn't be at all surprised....
Sarah Sambridge came to the production late, but you'd never know it. Possessed by the nervousness of someone with a deep dark secret, Sarah's character, Naomi, looked uncomfortable but desperately seeking acceptance. And as the other characters commented, she did indeed look great in the Victoria's Secret Miracle Bra Body Slip. I too am very glad she didn't choose the baggy cottontails.
Speaking of costumes, much as I loved the Yosemite Sam silk boxer shorts, the matching Finelines Jessie bridal lingerie was a stunning improvement. Although technically, panties should be worn over the suspender belt not underneath. And to be really nit-picky, I would've chosen Yves St Laurent or Schiaparelli stockings instead of Voodoo.
David Gregory rounded out the cast as James, the Groom. Utterly believable as a man who has (spoiler alert!) two gorgeous women lusting after him (not a part I could've played in a million years, sniff....). David had some of the funniest lines in the play and would give John Howard a run for his money in a backpedaling competition. James's monologue polarized the audience like nothing I've seen. I believe that on some nights the tech crew has to wheel out a cage, sort of like was used in The Blues Brothers.
The set was great, but take your sunglasses - the hotel bedroom is as pink as the Barbie aisle at Toys 'R' Us (light switches aren't usually mounted on door frames though, are they?) The slide show at the start was a wonderful way to open the production (Elizabeth Coleman likes her slide projectors, doesn't she!), although the accompanying recorded dialogue was a bit stilted - there really was no reason for it to stop completely and pause whilst the slides were being changed. Real people keep talking as slides progress. And while we're at it, shrinkage is a fact of life and is not funny.
The shower sound effect was initially convincing - it really did seem to be coming from the bathroom - but why did it only run for two minutes or so, then stop, then restart and run for two minutes or so, then stop, then restart....? Surely a five minute shower effect could have been prepared, rather than having to re-cue and re-play the same short sound effect over and over (with obvious gaps in between).
Oh well, if these are the only finicky things I could find to pick on, then overall the rest of it must have been pretty damn good. Well really, how bad can it be with the beautful Peta and Julia in bed together rubbing moisturising oil into each other's naked bodies.... but wait, I'm divulging too much of the plot. The cast are to be commended for continuing each production despite howls, howls I tell you, of laughter. And almost never treading on the laughs either! Good work guys and congratulations to KADS on a winner of a comedy (and for pulling the show together despite numerous setbacks). I believe it runs for two more weeks and some performances are filled, but there are certainly seats available (today's matinee had several spare). Go for a laugh (and to see the oiling scene), you won't be disappointed.
JB
The Australian Wedding Play (we're not allowed to utter its name)
Kalamunda Dramatic Society (WA)
Remaining season Nov 28 - Dec 8
From all reports, this production has been through hell (which is why we're not allowed to mention its cursed title), and, by some little-understood Einsteinian modification, has emerged out of the other side to stand as a bloody funny show.
It's a very simple plot: The night before her wedding, a bride and her two bridesmaids stay in a hotel (with the bride's mother in the room next door); everything's going well until suspicions are aroused about the groom's fidelity....
It all sounds very girly, and handled wrongly it could have come across as a two and a half hour episode of Neighbours (except for all the f***ing swearing). However, playwright Elizabeth Coleman has crafted a wickedly funny comedy (we know this 'coz it says so on the front of the programme). There are indeed some very funny lines but it still could have fallen flat if it wasn't for the superb ensemble cast.
Peta Newland.... sorry, Higson, was a vision playing soon-to-be-wed Meg. On stage for most of the production (particularly an exhausting Act 2), this is most definitely the best performance I've seen from her. Displaying all the nervousness and excitement of a bride-to-be, her energy was rerouted and channelled into apprehension and anger as the story progressed. Also, I've always thought that Peta moves more sensuously that just about anyone I've seen. I don't think she's a dancer, but she still tends to glide effortlessly about a room. Just lovely.
Amanda Ford played Meg's oldest friend, Angela (how confusing was that, since Peta played an "Angela" in her last production.) Angela married the first man she slept with, and is rather naive and inexperienced - easy prey for the cutting barbs and sarcasm of the other characters. However, Amanda's timing and delivery was excellent making her the character you want to laugh at, rather than laugh with (but in a nice way). Amanda did a lovely job of portraying perhaps the most likeable of the characters.
Di Graham came across well as Meg's uptight mother, Colleen. Someone told me they were worried about Di's English accent clashing with the younger Australian girls, but it never bothered me. Colleen obviously had English parents and developed her accent at a young age before coming to Australia. Daughter Meg obviously grew up here, adopting an Australian accent as she did so (maybe her father was Australian). JMHO, but I think people put too much stock in accents (but of course, I'd say that....). Much was made of Meg's annoyance at her mother's controlling influence, and I thought that could have been brought out a bit more. Colleen didn't seem the bitch she was occasionally described as, and maybe there could have been a bit more tension in the first ten minutes or so. Just my thoughts.
Although holding the audience's attention from the start, the production REALLY took off with the entrance of bridesmaid Lucy, played by the stunning Julia Dalby. Lucy calls a spade a spade and is the sort of friend we all know and want. She's 100% loyal but says the things that we wish we could say, or does what we deep down want to do, if only we weren't held back by our own inhibitions. Meg's mother doesn't approve of Lucy, and Lucy doesn't give a damn.
Julia raised the bar for naturalistic acting (if there is such a thing, bearing in mind my self-confessed ignorance of theatrical technique). Not once did she look like she was "acting". Every line (and what rippers some of them were!) seemed the most natural thing in the world. It was marvellous how she changed her intonation or delivery without missing a beat, depending on who she was talking to, when addressing several people at once. And her facial expressions! She had the audience in hysterics with just the tilt of an eyebrow or the quiver of a lip. Several people in the audience commented that the role had been written for her, and I wouldn't be at all surprised....
Sarah Sambridge came to the production late, but you'd never know it. Possessed by the nervousness of someone with a deep dark secret, Sarah's character, Naomi, looked uncomfortable but desperately seeking acceptance. And as the other characters commented, she did indeed look great in the Victoria's Secret Miracle Bra Body Slip. I too am very glad she didn't choose the baggy cottontails.
Speaking of costumes, much as I loved the Yosemite Sam silk boxer shorts, the matching Finelines Jessie bridal lingerie was a stunning improvement. Although technically, panties should be worn over the suspender belt not underneath. And to be really nit-picky, I would've chosen Yves St Laurent or Schiaparelli stockings instead of Voodoo.
David Gregory rounded out the cast as James, the Groom. Utterly believable as a man who has (spoiler alert!) two gorgeous women lusting after him (not a part I could've played in a million years, sniff....). David had some of the funniest lines in the play and would give John Howard a run for his money in a backpedaling competition. James's monologue polarized the audience like nothing I've seen. I believe that on some nights the tech crew has to wheel out a cage, sort of like was used in The Blues Brothers.
The set was great, but take your sunglasses - the hotel bedroom is as pink as the Barbie aisle at Toys 'R' Us (light switches aren't usually mounted on door frames though, are they?) The slide show at the start was a wonderful way to open the production (Elizabeth Coleman likes her slide projectors, doesn't she!), although the accompanying recorded dialogue was a bit stilted - there really was no reason for it to stop completely and pause whilst the slides were being changed. Real people keep talking as slides progress. And while we're at it, shrinkage is a fact of life and is not funny.
The shower sound effect was initially convincing - it really did seem to be coming from the bathroom - but why did it only run for two minutes or so, then stop, then restart and run for two minutes or so, then stop, then restart....? Surely a five minute shower effect could have been prepared, rather than having to re-cue and re-play the same short sound effect over and over (with obvious gaps in between).
Oh well, if these are the only finicky things I could find to pick on, then overall the rest of it must have been pretty damn good. Well really, how bad can it be with the beautful Peta and Julia in bed together rubbing moisturising oil into each other's naked bodies.... but wait, I'm divulging too much of the plot. The cast are to be commended for continuing each production despite howls, howls I tell you, of laughter. And almost never treading on the laughs either! Good work guys and congratulations to KADS on a winner of a comedy (and for pulling the show together despite numerous setbacks). I believe it runs for two more weeks and some performances are filled, but there are certainly seats available (today's matinee had several spare). Go for a laugh (and to see the oiling scene), you won't be disappointed.
JB
RE: for my benefit?
Tue, 27 Nov 2001, 11:26 pmWalter Plinge
Craig. Craig, Craig, Craig.... Girl-on-girl action is automatically "hot". Goes without saying! Looks like you need a bawdy refresher course at Dean Schulze's comprehensive 426-hour Wantoness Workshop (bring your own gladwrap and video camera).
JB
JB
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