Gone a million

‘Gone a million’ by local author Peter Flanigan, is showing at the Stirling Theatre, Morris Place, Innaloo at 8.00 pm nightly until 7^th March.

            It is 1977 in a typical middle class house in Scarborough. Aunty Gwen (Penny Searle), who is staying with the Sutton family, wins the Lottery’s first million dollar prize. After a life of austerity, she is very careful with her win, until the family start to spend their ‘rightful’ share of her money.

The scenery (Owen Williams) and lighting (Ian Wilson) were above average, and the props (Evie Hook) excellent, with packaging from Boans, Aherns, and Charlie Carters all having been sourced or created. The front of house display was fascinating. The costumes (Jann Rutherford) were well chosen.

The new tiering system for the audience seating is very impressive, and makes a huge difference. Alternating the seat displacement so there is a gap to look through, would be a big improvement.

Oh dear!   This play was written in 1977, and despite having a good storyline and an original ending, unfortunately shows its age. Even leaving the action back in the ‘70s, the script needs to have a great deal of work to make it acceptable to a modern audience. The very slow pace and weak direction, which at times even went back to the silent movies style of hand on the brow body movement, dragged the actors down. Only Penny Searle and Cassie Vagliviello seemed to survive. Comedy requires a regular flow of laughs; there were only two audible laughs in the first two acts, with the biggest laugh given to a removal man (Kevan Hook) for his asides.