Closer ****

‘Closer’ is the presentation from Milestone Theatre, showing until the 2^nd June at the Rechabites Hall, Perth and then for 2 days, 22^nd and 23^rd of June, in Kwinana. Curtin up at 8 pm.

The lights come on to show an injured young girl, Alice (Miley Tunnecliffe) sitting at the side of the road. Dan (Nick Britton) stops to help her and takes her to hospital where a young doctor, Larry (Peter Clark) gives her a quick check over, but finds an old scar on her leg far more interesting than the new injuries. Both men are married, one to Anna (Mia Martin) the other to Ruth. Whilst the women are wanting security, the two men are wanting their cake and to eat it too. What will be the outcome? Happy families or four lonely people?

This play was penned by Patrick Marber, who has written ‘Dealer’s Choice’ and the recent Judy Dench screenplay ‘Notes on a Scandal’. This play may have been an international hit, but I really felt that 15 minutes off the script would have worked better.

The performances were all very enjoyable, with plenty of pathos, no nudity but certainly raunchy scenes and some great, well-delivered comedy. At the thin parts of the script, I noticed a drop in the actors’ delivery, as though they too felt that an edit was necessary.

The directing (Igor Sas) was proficient, and the lighting and design limited but effective. Good to see Blue Room’s hardworking Paula Coops getting a photo credit in the programme.

The show had plenty of punch (orally and visually) and was well worth seeing.

I saw this show last night and firstly, hate to start off with a negative but is there a reason it went up half an hour late? Obviously if technical problems were the issue then fair enough, but I'm guessing it was to wait for the people that arrived late which I think is extremely rude and unfair on the people that did turn up on time, not to mention the actors. Anyway, enough with that and onto the show itself. The first time I saw Closer (on video I'm sorry to admit) I wasn't sure if I really liked it but something does draw you back to watch it again. I can't say the same for the performance I saw last night. This version drew me in from the beginning. And I would gladly go and see it again without complaint. I thought the performances were generally well executed. My opinion on each individual (in order of appearance): Miley Tunnecliffe - I thought Ms Tunnecliffe's first scene was enjoyable but as the show progressed, her accent was flawed due to that it seemed she couldn't decide whether she was from London, Kent, America or Australia? Nick Britton - I thought Mr Britton did extremely well. Very believable character though at sometimes tended to mumble which unfortunately due to the accoustics of Rechabites, made it even harder to hear clearly. But never-the-less, a fantastic performance. Mia Martin - Again, fantastic performance though at times a little quiet though through body & facial expression, you could understand everything her character was going through. And I don't think I've ever seen anyone look so good in a singlet & jeans! Peter Clark - 99% flawless....! The only thing I can possibly say against Mr Clark's performance is that his first scene he sounded like he was was Kent rather than London which the rest of his performance implied. The show as a whole: As an ensemble everyone did well, though Ms Tunncliffe seemed to be the weaker of the four. The scene I thought didn't fit so well would have to be the Strip Club scene with Ms Tunnecliffe & Mr Clark. Though it ran very smooth, it seemed Ms Tunnecliffe seemed to copy Natalie Portman's portrayal from the movie which would have been fine if the rest of her performance matched. And for the life of me, I can't understand why a stipper would be wearing what seemed to be a petticoat? Last I heard, stippers were wearing alot less. To me, this made the performance false. The rest of the production was so well done, it seemed to be let down by this obvious choice of 'cover-up/insecure' costume. Overall, Igor Sas has directed a wonderful production which I would highly recommend all to see. Congratulations to cast & crew and hope your season goes well. Stella Keene

STELLA-A-A-A wrote- Peter Clark 'sounded like he was was Kent rather than London which the rest of his performance implied.' I met Peter before and he claimed he was from South London, but I reckon he was a Surreyite...

did he have a kentish accent or is he a man of Kent. Or perhaps the Medway accent was stronger. Is that all there is? Well if that's all there is my friend, then let's keep dancing. www.tonymoore.id.au

how can an australian audience identify between an accent associated with kent and london? i would have thought that as two of the actors were from england they would cope with a generic british, the audience would accet and away we go! surely the delivery and the characterisation should be put under the microscope? nick britton was stale and delivered his lines like a frightened child, Miley Tunnecliffe did not fair much better with an accent that was reminisent of how i would expect the queen to speak if she were ever to get fresh with philip! im afraid apart from the male lead there was very little to be positive about...apart from when the director took to the stage for a bow...classy!

I believe those people who commented on the Kent/London differences have spent some time in those areas, and therefore would be able to tell. (Besides, if they have not spent time there, it does not stop them from taking accent classes, which surely would have explained the differences, even just in passing. You don't need to be from a particular country to know there's a difference - we all know NY accents are different from Southern US ones) Sticky Apple Legs www.freewebs.com/stickyapplelegs Puppets in Melbourne www.thepromptcopy.com/pip

I'm sorry, I was taking the p***. I actually agree with Heidy to an extent. I lived in Kent and after ten years I could just tell the difference between a Kentishman and a Man of Kent (depends which end of the county you come from) and then there was the Medway accent which to an untutored ear was very similar to a London accent from close to the East End (not cockney). The point is that someone from London probably couldn't tell the difference between some of these accents. I agree that a debate in Australia about whether an accent was from London or Kent is ridiculous. Is that all there is? Well if that's all there is my friend, then let's keep dancing. www.tonymoore.id.au

Spent some time there..i lived there for 36 years, so i guess i do know a little about the subject. i think i was making the point that although the accent for one female lead was an abundantly clear problem, the issue between the kent and london accent is nebulus as they are virtually the same! its ridiculous that this is the main concern when there were so many other glaring aspects that needed to be remedied! also what accent class have you attended that has been so specific?

Can I assume that you aren't actually Grant Malcolm? Like I said earlier to an extent I was taking the p***. Accent classes? I have attended many but as I said I lived in kent for about ten years working in the professional theatre and gradually grew to identify between the three primary Kentish accents and both North and South London accents as well as teaching acting for a while in Lewisham where I dealt with accents from south of the river and the east end. I didn't see the play, I just thought the discussion about the accent was silly and said so. I'm my own worst enemy sometimes I just should have shut up and let it pass. Is that all there is? Well if that's all there is my friend, then let's keep dancing. www.tonymoore.id.au

I haven't attended any accent classes - only some voice classes while at uni. I was taking a guess :P obviously a wrong one Sticky Apple Legs www.freewebs.com/stickyapplelegs Puppets in Melbourne www.thepromptcopy.com/pip