On Top of the World
Mon, 26 May 2003, 03:38 pmWalter Plinge1 post in thread
On Top of the World
Mon, 26 May 2003, 03:38 pmFirstly, I'd like to congratulate Melville theatre for selecting this play. It was a very brave choice and more than makes up for their slashing and burning of the Secret Bridesmaids Business script last year........ ;-b
The premise is very simple. It is a contemporary story, set in real-time, atop an apartment somewhere on the Gold Coast. As this is very much a dramatic, character driven piece, there is very little movement or "action" required. I guess the trick then, is to have a cast that holds the attention of the audience, from the first word to the last. Geoff has assembled such a cast.
The role of “Stephanie” has got to be a career highlight for any woman, WHAT a character!!!! She is a highly educated woman who is cruel, conniving and vicious. There are moments during the play, where I physically recoiled at the ugliness of “Stephanie”. She “plays” her hapless brother easily and has little or no empathy for anyone in her life, even her cancer ridden father. Cheryl (apologies if I’ve spelt this incorrectly….) does “Stephanie” great justice. She has several monologues during the course of the play, which she delivers in full force, never once losing her energy. Phew!! One small thing: when I read the play, I figured “Stephanie” would have a much more relaxed Australian accent. Every one of Cheryl’s consonants pinged off the back wall (she has a beautiful stage voice) and made “Stephanie” sound far more “posh” than I’d imagined. It’s an observation only, and could well have been a directorial decision?
The long suffering role of “Marcus” was played beautifully by Dr Jarrod Buttery. “Marcus” tends to be a bit whiney/woe-is-me, however as the play progresses, we are given a glimpse of the dark and nasty side to his character. There is a point in the first act where “Marcus” breaks down, due to an onslaught from his nutty sister. Jarrod was so convincing in this bit, I nearly leapt up on stage and bitch-slapped “Stephanie” in his defence.
This was the first time I’ve seen Stuart Riches perform, HOW good is he?????!!!!! He played the part of “Clive” the father of the two horror-offspring. Isn’t it interesting how we can read a character one way and assume the way we’ve read it is the way it should be played. Stuart played “Clive” far lighter than I’d pictured, and it worked really well. He was a delight to watch, and his interaction with the other characters spot on. You really feel for him, whilst at the same time wondering if he really deserves the tormented ingrates he has as children.
This can almost be seen as a play about four Victims, or so we think initially. We could feel sorry for Stephanie, because we see a young woman whose life has been put on hold, whilst she tends to her dying father. We may ache for the tortured Marcus, who is incapable of finding any peace or joy in a world he cannot relate to or embrace in any way. Our hearts certainly break for their father Clive, who is dying a slow and painful death. This is until we hear from “Baby”, the last of this rather fucked up foursome.
“Baby” is played perfectly by the wonderful Pat Golding; in a performance she should be proud of forever more!! This character IS pathos; a doormat since the day she was born. “Baby” has a monologue in the second act. It’s a glimpse of the wretched and thankless life she has lead, a litany of every sick/dying relative she’s ever nursed, and is pretty heart-wrenching stuff. Pat delivered this piece without a SHRED of self pity, which made it all the more powerful. Well done!!!!!
This is a wonderful Australian play. ItÂ’s dark and nasty and has some very funny moments indeed. It has been expertly directed by one of our local STARS, the prolific Mr Geoff Leader, and is well worth seeing!!!!!
Congrats again to all!!
J x
The premise is very simple. It is a contemporary story, set in real-time, atop an apartment somewhere on the Gold Coast. As this is very much a dramatic, character driven piece, there is very little movement or "action" required. I guess the trick then, is to have a cast that holds the attention of the audience, from the first word to the last. Geoff has assembled such a cast.
The role of “Stephanie” has got to be a career highlight for any woman, WHAT a character!!!! She is a highly educated woman who is cruel, conniving and vicious. There are moments during the play, where I physically recoiled at the ugliness of “Stephanie”. She “plays” her hapless brother easily and has little or no empathy for anyone in her life, even her cancer ridden father. Cheryl (apologies if I’ve spelt this incorrectly….) does “Stephanie” great justice. She has several monologues during the course of the play, which she delivers in full force, never once losing her energy. Phew!! One small thing: when I read the play, I figured “Stephanie” would have a much more relaxed Australian accent. Every one of Cheryl’s consonants pinged off the back wall (she has a beautiful stage voice) and made “Stephanie” sound far more “posh” than I’d imagined. It’s an observation only, and could well have been a directorial decision?
The long suffering role of “Marcus” was played beautifully by Dr Jarrod Buttery. “Marcus” tends to be a bit whiney/woe-is-me, however as the play progresses, we are given a glimpse of the dark and nasty side to his character. There is a point in the first act where “Marcus” breaks down, due to an onslaught from his nutty sister. Jarrod was so convincing in this bit, I nearly leapt up on stage and bitch-slapped “Stephanie” in his defence.
This was the first time I’ve seen Stuart Riches perform, HOW good is he?????!!!!! He played the part of “Clive” the father of the two horror-offspring. Isn’t it interesting how we can read a character one way and assume the way we’ve read it is the way it should be played. Stuart played “Clive” far lighter than I’d pictured, and it worked really well. He was a delight to watch, and his interaction with the other characters spot on. You really feel for him, whilst at the same time wondering if he really deserves the tormented ingrates he has as children.
This can almost be seen as a play about four Victims, or so we think initially. We could feel sorry for Stephanie, because we see a young woman whose life has been put on hold, whilst she tends to her dying father. We may ache for the tortured Marcus, who is incapable of finding any peace or joy in a world he cannot relate to or embrace in any way. Our hearts certainly break for their father Clive, who is dying a slow and painful death. This is until we hear from “Baby”, the last of this rather fucked up foursome.
“Baby” is played perfectly by the wonderful Pat Golding; in a performance she should be proud of forever more!! This character IS pathos; a doormat since the day she was born. “Baby” has a monologue in the second act. It’s a glimpse of the wretched and thankless life she has lead, a litany of every sick/dying relative she’s ever nursed, and is pretty heart-wrenching stuff. Pat delivered this piece without a SHRED of self pity, which made it all the more powerful. Well done!!!!!
This is a wonderful Australian play. ItÂ’s dark and nasty and has some very funny moments indeed. It has been expertly directed by one of our local STARS, the prolific Mr Geoff Leader, and is well worth seeing!!!!!
Congrats again to all!!
J x