The Sum of Us - Old Mill Theatre (WA)

Stage: The Sum of Us Written by Daniel Smith. Photo by Nigel Etherington. Saturday, 02 February 2008 http://www.gayinwa.com.au/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=625&Itemid=268 The Sum of Us remains one of my all time favourite movies. It was released in 1994 - around the time that I was grappling with coming out for the first time - and was probably as influential in my decision making as the release of The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert in the same year. Where Priscilla presented how fabulous, yet tragic, life as a gay man could be, The Sum of Us presented a different perspective of ordinary people, living ordinary lives. Priscilla gave us feathers, sequins and a dance floor soundtrack to die for, The Sum of Us gave us footy shorts, kitchen aprons and Australia's best bands. Priscilla featured a bus filled with makeup and accessories leaving Newtown and The Sum of Us gave us a plumber's ute, packed with tools, working around Balmain. Two very different films, tackling similar issues in a time in Australian cinema when it was becoming okay to do so. Together, they left me feeling that my equal attraction to mirrorballs and footballs was something to be pleased about, rather then confused about. I had the opportunity to see the stage production of The Sum of Us at the Old Mill Theatre on Friday night. Written by David Stevens, the stage production preceded the movie and is set in the working class Melbourne suburb of Footscray in the 1980s. It is set largely at the home of Jeff (Phil Barnett) and his father Harry (Alan Kennedy). Jeff is 28, a plumber and a single gay man looking for love. Harry is a larrikin widower, who, while remaining disappointed he will not have grandchildren, loves his son unconditionally. They live together as mates. The plot centres around both Jeff and Harry's search for love and companionship, focusing first on Jeff's stop-start beginnings with local gardener Greg (Chris Thomas) and then on Harry's romancing of Joyce, a middle aged divorcee with frightening hair, who he met through a dating agency. We learn that the joys and sorrows of love are similar, whether you are gay or straight. We are also reminded of how a son's homosexuality adds complexity to the father-son relationship and shown, through the contrasting of Jeff and Harry's relationship with the relationship between Greg and his father, that the outcome is largely dependent on whether the parent's priority is their child or themselves. Co-Directed by Barnett and Danielle Ashton, The Sum of Us is both well acted and moving, with Alan Kennedy the standout as Harry. It features entertaining and seamless set changes, a memory-arousing soundtrack, party pies and one of those beautiful multi-coloured back door vertical plastic strip fly stoppers (did they have a name?). And, for someone who grew up with Alf Stewart, I am amazed to say that I learnt a few new Australian colloquialisms through the script. Stone the flaming crows! The Sum of Us plays at 8pm, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, February 1, 2, 7, 8, 9, 14, 15 and 16 and 2pm, Sunday, February 3. Tickets are $19 ($14 concession) – bookings can be made on (08) 9367 8719. The heritage-listed Old Mill Theatre is located on Mends Street, South Perth, opposite the Windsor Hotel. My only tips, other than preparing yourself to be entertained, is to dress light and arrive early if you fancy a pre-show drink. The theatre doesn't cope well with really warm days and the bar moves a little slowly.