Last of the Red Hot Lovers
Mon, 18 Nov 2002, 05:53 pmWalter Plinge3 posts in thread
Last of the Red Hot Lovers
Mon, 18 Nov 2002, 05:53 pmWHAT: Last of the Red Hot Lovers
WHEN: Saturday, November 16, 2002
WHERE: Harbour Theatre, Fremantle, WA
Imagine how surprised I was to discover that Harbour Theatre's latest production does not star Dean Schulze. Surprised, but not disappointed as the prolific Fred Lawson takes the title role.
Having practised during Harbour's 2001 production of "Lost in Yonkers", Fred revisits Neil Simon armed with his best Noo Yawk accent. I found "Last of the Red Hot Lovers" a bit of a strange play - less of a full-length production and more like a trio of one-act plays.
Fred Lawson's Barney is a middle-aged New Yorker in the 1960s. Happily married but bored, he decides to use his mother's apartment (while his mother is at work, of course) as the venue for illicit liaisons. Each of the three Acts portrays his (attempted) seduction of three vastly different women.
Act One welcomes the cool and aloof Irene - sorry, Elaine - played by Jo Sterkenberg. As it is the first time that we meet either of the characters, Barney spends a lot of time explaining who he is, what he does, and why he's here. Meanwhile Elaine, who casually informs us she's no naughty nooner novice, spends most of her time looking down her nose at the quiveringly inexperienced Barney. Her ease and his nervousness provide a lot of the laughs.
Act Two was my favourite of the liaisons. In contrast to the previous Act, Barney can hardly get a word in edgewise when confronted with the ebullient Bobbi (Angela Johnson). Bobbi is a singer/actress who seems to have had more adventures than Superman. Her ex-boyfriend was a high-ranking politician who kidnapped her dog (and the police are in on it); she shares an apartment (and a bed!) with a leather-clad German dominatrix; she smokes (shock!) marijuana - but only for medicinal reasons; and so on.... The energy is at its highest point as poor Barney hardly has time to get over one revelation before Bobbi is off on another tangent. Hilarious, engaging work.
Act Three suffered a bit in comparison (in my opinion). Barney has managed to entice Jeanette (Rosemary Longhurst), a friend of his wife, to mum's lovenest. Jeanette is overcome with guilt and feelings of unworthiness, and spends much of the Act morose and in tears. There were some chuckles to be had as Barney tries to cheer her up but the earlier frivolity is replaced by seriousness and soul-searching. Not that that's a bad thing, but it slowed the pace a little.
Fred certainly got the audience on his side, and they returned the favour with their attentiveness. At the start of each Act, Barney attempts to make up for his previous shortcomings (changing his suit, bringing more supplies, etc). The audience recognised this and responded with much laughter. All three actresses performed well, with the very lovely Angela stealing the show in her crowd-pleasing role. Special mention too should go to Rob Tagliaferri (not the mayor) for faultless lighting operation.
Director Stan Brannick obviously has a soft spot for this play. It's certainly starting to show its age and is nowhere near as shocking as it must have been when published in 1970. However, it's still fun and is brought to life by four great, believable performances. Thank you.
JB
WHEN: Saturday, November 16, 2002
WHERE: Harbour Theatre, Fremantle, WA
Imagine how surprised I was to discover that Harbour Theatre's latest production does not star Dean Schulze. Surprised, but not disappointed as the prolific Fred Lawson takes the title role.
Having practised during Harbour's 2001 production of "Lost in Yonkers", Fred revisits Neil Simon armed with his best Noo Yawk accent. I found "Last of the Red Hot Lovers" a bit of a strange play - less of a full-length production and more like a trio of one-act plays.
Fred Lawson's Barney is a middle-aged New Yorker in the 1960s. Happily married but bored, he decides to use his mother's apartment (while his mother is at work, of course) as the venue for illicit liaisons. Each of the three Acts portrays his (attempted) seduction of three vastly different women.
Act One welcomes the cool and aloof Irene - sorry, Elaine - played by Jo Sterkenberg. As it is the first time that we meet either of the characters, Barney spends a lot of time explaining who he is, what he does, and why he's here. Meanwhile Elaine, who casually informs us she's no naughty nooner novice, spends most of her time looking down her nose at the quiveringly inexperienced Barney. Her ease and his nervousness provide a lot of the laughs.
Act Two was my favourite of the liaisons. In contrast to the previous Act, Barney can hardly get a word in edgewise when confronted with the ebullient Bobbi (Angela Johnson). Bobbi is a singer/actress who seems to have had more adventures than Superman. Her ex-boyfriend was a high-ranking politician who kidnapped her dog (and the police are in on it); she shares an apartment (and a bed!) with a leather-clad German dominatrix; she smokes (shock!) marijuana - but only for medicinal reasons; and so on.... The energy is at its highest point as poor Barney hardly has time to get over one revelation before Bobbi is off on another tangent. Hilarious, engaging work.
Act Three suffered a bit in comparison (in my opinion). Barney has managed to entice Jeanette (Rosemary Longhurst), a friend of his wife, to mum's lovenest. Jeanette is overcome with guilt and feelings of unworthiness, and spends much of the Act morose and in tears. There were some chuckles to be had as Barney tries to cheer her up but the earlier frivolity is replaced by seriousness and soul-searching. Not that that's a bad thing, but it slowed the pace a little.
Fred certainly got the audience on his side, and they returned the favour with their attentiveness. At the start of each Act, Barney attempts to make up for his previous shortcomings (changing his suit, bringing more supplies, etc). The audience recognised this and responded with much laughter. All three actresses performed well, with the very lovely Angela stealing the show in her crowd-pleasing role. Special mention too should go to Rob Tagliaferri (not the mayor) for faultless lighting operation.
Director Stan Brannick obviously has a soft spot for this play. It's certainly starting to show its age and is nowhere near as shocking as it must have been when published in 1970. However, it's still fun and is brought to life by four great, believable performances. Thank you.
JB
Re: Last of the Red Hot Lovers
Mon, 18 Nov 2002, 11:18 pmWalter Plinge
i saw the show on mon the 18th and agree with jarrod's synopsis on the show. Angela johnson, was subliminal in her epic portrayal of the drugged up junkie. she really rocked my shagpile. i'de sure like to be a bar of soap in her shower! no butt seriously, she really was enigmatic as a pot smoking hussy. i was left with a warm, slightly moist, at need of a better word, sloppy...
my mum really liked her too.
and my dad,
and uncle phil... he really liked her... he said she was the best thing since sliced bread.
he said he'd sure like to be the feeding bag on that horse.
and why not!!
well thanks jarrod... as soft porn goes, i'de rate it up there with anal action three.
achingly yours,
dirk
my mum really liked her too.
and my dad,
and uncle phil... he really liked her... he said she was the best thing since sliced bread.
he said he'd sure like to be the feeding bag on that horse.
and why not!!
well thanks jarrod... as soft porn goes, i'de rate it up there with anal action three.
achingly yours,
dirk