The American Plan at Melville Theatre

Fri, 26 June 2009, 08:19 am

billythekid14 posts in thread

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.

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billythekidFri, 26 June 2009, 08:19 am

Gordon the OptomFri, 26 June 2009, 08:34 am

The American Plan

‘The American Plan’ written by Richard Greenberg in 1990, is directed by Geoffrey Leeder. It is the latest presentation from the Melville Theatre Company on Canning Highway in Melville. It is being shown for one week only, nightly at 8.00 pm with one Sunday matinee.

At her extremely wealthy and domineering mother’s holiday retreat in the Catskill Mountains, eccentric Lily Adler (Amy Welsh) cannot believe her luck, when an Adonis climbs out of the lake and starts to dry himself. This is Nick (Gareth Walsh), a newspaper reporter. Lili has had a lifetime of finding boyfriends only to have them repelled by her manipulating mother Eva (Marsha Holt), who is determined to isolate her daughter. So not surprisingly, when Nick, with some surprise, asks Lili, ‘you are with your mother?’ Lily replies ‘Forever!’ To relieve boredom, Lily concocts events in her life and fantasises reality, at times not even knowing the truth herself.

Eva, a German Jew, fled as a refugee 15 years earlier. Now, in 1959, she has rebuilt her empire. As the play progresses, it seems that Eva’s companion and maid, Olivia (Sidsel Brannick), is the only rational individual.

Nick proposes to Lily and amazingly, the mother gives the couple her blessing. Then onto the scene appears Gil (Manuao TeAotonga), Mr Personality, who immediately captures the hearts of Eva and Olivia a thus putting the couple’s future - and Lily’s newfound freedom - on shaky ground. As the veneers fall off and the layers chip away, a disturbing series of circumstances are laid out.

In the final scene, we are taken forward ten years to 1969, to a flat in New York, where in the street below anti-Vietnam demonstrations are taking place. Nick and Lily are recalling the past decade.

Amy Welsh’s performance was powerful, yet whimsical as her moods adeptly changed from the spoilt child, to a stubborn, demanding youth. There was a strong chemistry between the lovers, and Marsha was convincingly frightening with her subtle strategies. The strong cast gave an emotion-filled rendition of this tricky play. The accents were accurate.

The set included a wonderful log cabin. The lighting was very well controlled, especially when a couple of light changes from day to dusk took place. The script is precisely and skilfully assembled, with plenty of humour and surprises. This production can be appreciated at many levels, according to the audience. Most enjoyable.

Amy WelshFri, 26 June 2009, 09:11 am

The American Plan Season

Thanks for your kind words billythekid and Gordon. Just letting everyone know that The American Plan actually runs two weeks (this week and next - see event listing below)

http://www.theatre.asn.au/production/2009/the_american_plan

Please come along and check it out, all audiences are appreciated!!

I had no idea that art offered salvation from madness. I was of the opinion that most artists are, themselves, quite deranged.

Doug Wright, Quills

Christian DaltonSat, 27 June 2009, 07:51 pm

The boys do it again!!

An enjoyable evening, with a very good cast, at a cosy little theatre. What more could you ask for. Congratulations to Amy Welsh playing Lili. I felt that she pulled off a very difficult character with the greatest of ease. You could clearly see the desperation in her character's eyes which, as a spectator, makes you warmth to her. At one point I was starting to believe that something bad was going to happen to her character throughout the play. Great job. Nick, played by Gareth Walsh, as expected, did not dissapoint. Gareth is particuarly great to watch when his characters require more difficult / serious feelings, and displays all the required emotions wonderfully through his facial expressions. Nick and Gil's scenes together were definately the highlights of the play. Both actors have very distinctive strengths. When put together, the rest was history, and they both complimented one another perfectly. The delicate tone and pitch of Gil's voice, with Nick's body language was completely convincing. Once again, Manuao TeAotonga brings a little magic to Melville, and captures the audience with another moving performance, but this time with the help of the talented Gareth Walsh. The entire audience was at their disposal. Both Manuao, and Gareth became puppeteers, and we the audience were their puppets. I was very amused only to hear the gentleman sat next to me turn and say to his wife with a smile on his face during their first big scene "Well, this is certainly new for Melville!" One of the biggest rewards for an actor is when he/she is able to draw their audience in with their performance and presence on stage. This cast did just that. Congratulations to everyone involved. You have all done a very good job, and I did not see one unhappy spectator throughout the evening. And it is always a pleasure to see the lovely Edna, the raffle tickets lady. ;) Final note. A little advice for Manuao as this is his first non-musical performance....I think you have found your calling card! Stick at it, and we the audience will be there!!

mrsmartypantsMon, 29 June 2009, 09:14 am

American Plan - Let's hear it for the boys!

I saw this play over the weekend and loved it. The previous reviewers have said it all apart from pointing out that Gareth & Manuao are bootylicious! If you go to theatre to leave your brain at the door, this play is not for you. There is a touch of adult content in this play, but interestingly not one single four letter word, the overuse of which in plays offends me more than anything you will see at Melville. All credit to the playwright. A great and touching story. Yes, Melville are to be commended for staging this play, but friends of mine who are friends of sources close to the Director (my research is extensive) tell me that it was initially refused and only taken up when another play was withdrawn. I for one am glad that it eventually got a guernsey. Do yourself a favour; go see this play-it’s not just the eye candy (with all respect to you guys G & M). You won’t be disappointed, Just stay away from the dodgy free sherry!

LaurenWTue, 30 June 2009, 10:11 am

American Plan - Not to be missed

I also braved the dark and stormy weather on the weekend for my first visit to Melville since I saw Dr Buttery & Sheryl Spencer in “On Top Of The World” and looking at the displayed theatre posters since that play, I remembered why. Nothing appealed. This production was worth the risk and the journey. It’s hard to define the genre in which this play falls. Is it a drama? Yes, but it has some very funny moments. I found all the characters interesting, well defined and acted. The love scenes are played with soul bearing honesty. I was emotionally connected to these people and cared about what happened to them. That’s what I look for when I go to the theatre and I found it here. Congratulations. I recall Jenny Macnae, when adjudicating one-act festivals, would talk of magic moments in theatre. Mine in this play was when Nick emphatically says to Eva “I create happiness, that’s what I do” and at the play’s end he agrees with Lili, “Happiness exists, but it’s for other people.” Oh Boy! Go see this play.

GarrethSat, 4 July 2009, 02:15 pm

Clapping Coercion an American Plan?

Went last night, it was ok. Actors were very good. Direction left MUCH to be desired. A great deal of profile acting happened which made it more difficult for audience members to engage with the actors, again not so much the actors fault as the director's. I might also add the actors were made to stand still at most times giving the play more of a feeling of being at a chess match. Pauses were too much and turned what might have been great scenes into sloppy melodrama. Pace was awful too, it was like watching a Galapagos tortoise perform Hamlet (full length). Perhaps the greatest abomination though was the obnoxious clapping which ensued after each scene had finished and was instigated by just one member of the audience. There were certainly some scenes which deserved the applause but there were many scenes where the audience should have been allowed for the emotion of what just happened to sink in, instead they were coerced into applauding. It reached a point of absurdity in the second act when a scene no longer than two minutes in length was applauded. I might add that at this point the majority of the audience had stopped applauding and there were many disgruntled sighs taking place around me. Now, normally I would just allow this to drop BUT I found out that the instigator of this obnoxious clapping was the director!!! If he does read this: Stop it! You're really ruining not only your own work but that of your actors.

Thomas StanleySat, 4 July 2009, 04:59 pm

I too saw this play last

I too saw this play last night and to some degree I agree with Garreths comments. I agree that there was someone that was over zealous with the applause. and now hearing it was the director! I think he could have shown his appreciation without so much enthusiasm. But I can see why he wanted to applaud so often and so loudly! The man is obviously very proud of his show. I disagree with Garreths comments on the lack of engagement with the audience. It was refreshing to watch a show where you felt like you were watching something unfolding and feeling like you were almost imposing! There were some very emotional and confronting scenes and to see the actors performing to each other rather then to the audience I felt was a good decision. Very we cast. Very strong performance!

GarrethSat, 4 July 2009, 09:38 pm

Call it a difference in

Call it a difference in philosophy but an audience member should never feel like an interloper. All it does is create false emotional anguish.

Walter PlingeThu, 9 July 2009, 01:22 pm

That kiss!

A very enjoyable play. Although a drama I found some very humourous moments. Of all the theatre that I have seen though I have never been witness to a kiss like the one I saw on this stage. The kiss between the two boys was one of the most passionate I have seen between actors. I have never seen 2 people of the same sex kiss on stage before, and I thought that it may have been uncomfortable for me but it wasnt. It was a convincing moment that seemed believable for the characters. I think that some of the older and traditional audience members may have thought differently by the audible gasps though. Did the actors feel comfortable about this I wonder? I have never done acting before so I don't know how you have to deal with kissing someone like that.

Amy WelshThu, 9 July 2009, 01:47 pm

JoolzPoPe Comments...

JoolzPoPe said: "I have never done acting before so I don't know how you have to deal with kissing someone like that."

Someone like what, dare I ask?

As a cast member of The American Plan, I can't speak for the boys, but to me, a kiss is a kiss, it doesn't matter who you're kissing. You simply get over any nerves, and rehearse it and rehearse it until it becomes a natural part of the action.

Thanks for your comments though. I always enjoyed noting how the audience reacted to that scene as well. It was a good indicator as to how the rest of the act would go!!

I had no idea that art offered salvation from madness. I was of the opinion that most artists are, themselves, quite deranged.

Doug Wright, Quills

Walter PlingeThu, 9 July 2009, 04:44 pm

Sorry My Bad

When I wrote "I have never done acting before so I don't know how you have to deal with kissing someone like that". I meant it to read "I have never done acting before so I don't know how you have to deal with kissing someone in that style, with a more open mouth rather then just your stock-standard peck on the lips". Sorry if you read it differently. Well performed by the way.

Amy WelshThu, 9 July 2009, 04:56 pm

Sorry Too...

Hi JoolzPoPe,

I do apologise if my reponse appeared a bit strong. I didn't mean to put you offside. Just my overactive, political brain I think...

Though my answer is still the same ;)

I had no idea that art offered salvation from madness. I was of the opinion that most artists are, themselves, quite deranged.

Doug Wright, Quills

grantwatsonFri, 10 July 2009, 11:44 am

From my experience, it's

From my experience, it's something you just work through in rehearsal, so by the time you come to the actual performances you just dive in and snog.

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