The American Plan at Melville Theatre

Melville’s “The American Plan” is the first production in Community Theatre that I have attended since my arrival in Perth. I was impressed. I have to confess that I went with some trepidation as I had seen a professional production of this play a few years ago in New York. Being mindful of the facilities available to professional theatre, as opposed to the local community group, this production stood up well and I congratulate them for it. The play is set in the Catskill Mountains in 1959 and then in the final scene in New York 10 years later. It’s about relationships and makes an important statement about what it was like in 1959 to be marginalised. I won’t comment further on the plot as there is a major change in direction midway through the play and to give it away here would spoil it for future audiences. The script calls for one of the actors to be an African/American. Clearly such an actor would not be readily available in Perth. I have seen some debate on this site recently concerning the use of black make up. It may work in some places but not, I think, in this play and the Director has wisely chosen to make a slight adjustment so that character in this production is of Scandinavian origin. Sidsell Brannick, using her own natural accent, gives a charming performance as Olivia, the housekeeper/companion to Eva. It is not a large role but she has some nice moments, especially with the daughter Lili. Nicknamed the “Czarina” by the holidaymakers in the Jewish enclave in the Catskills, Eva, played by Marsha Holt presides over table, describing life in the hotel across the lake as barbaric. Her well-bred sensitivities are assaulted by the copious amounts of food eaten. She is a bitter woman whose husband’s Jewishness was unacceptable in the corporate world of the ‘50’s. Ms Holt makes the most of her character and I enjoyed her work with it. Eva’s daughter Lili, a “difficult, difficult girl” is played by Amy Welsh. Ms Welsh is diminutive in stature but not in ability. Some very amusing and in contrast, emotional moments show her range. She holds herself with grace and maturity in the final scene. Lili’s lover Nick, played by Gareth Walsh, is the young man who “looks like nothing ever happened to him”. His handsome face is a window to his soul, his vulnerability in significant scenes palpable, the telling of his father’s story a beautiful moment of theatre. The “enthusiastic and attractive” stranger (Gil) played by Manuao TeAotonga enters in Act 2. Mr TeAotonga has a commanding presence on stage but not to the detriment of the other players. His is a pivotal character, played with distinction. The scenes between Nick and Gil are handled with honesty and integrity and are a highlight of this production. I congratulate the actors for their work together. If I have any issues it would be only that I felt the painted backdrop was not the best, but I was so interested in the story and the actors playing it that it (the backdrop) became for me unnoticed. My congratulations to all those involved in this play that I highly recommend. Contemporary theatre, I love it. Melville Theatre, well done for taking risks in staging this work.