JIGSAWS - Kwinana Theatre Workshop

Having just (literally) witnessed the opening night of this locally written play by Jennifer Rogers, I can safely say that Director Sue Hayward and her team at KTW are going to have a fight on their hands.

 A fight to supply enough seating – because any theatre patron in their right mind would not want to miss this production.

This show has it all; comedy, pathos, sex, violence - even ice-cubes, whipped cream, baby oil and gay love! There is definitely something here for everyone.

This show is typical of the award winning director Sue Hayward’s excellent workmanship (Sorry Sue, workWOMANship), her knowledge of theatre and stagecraft and her penchant for mounting controversial and powerful plays, with a no holds barred insight into the life of three generations of females.

 It provides the audience with absolutely flawless portrayals of the Grand Mother “Emma” (Judith Lauder), her daughters, “Pat” (Sharon Edsall) and “Sylvia” (Judy St. Clair), and their respective daughters “Alex” (Elizabeth Helen Hartley Conner) and “Monica” (Sarah Costick).

 As one would expect, putting actresses of this calibre together on stage together as an ensemble can pretty much guarantee an excellent show and you will not be disappointed when you come down to see their collective work.

 You will identify with these women and the lives that they lead, their trials and tribulations, the recognisable reality of the ladies performances is heart-warming, chilling and hilarious.

Although starring and aimed at the “fairer” sex, there is absolutely NO reason that the guys should shy away,(as a matter of fact, I was probably laughing more and having more “deep” moments watching the show than some of the ladies in the audience tonight!)

Fantastic opening night Ladies, and Chookas for the rest of your season... Pure enjoyment!

‘Jigsaws’ was written by local playwright, Jennifer Rogers, who normally writes text books on topics such as human resources and personal development. Showing at the well-equipped, 80-seat Kwinana Theatre in the Koorliny Arts Centre, 22 Sulphur Road, Kwinana, at 8.00 pm on Friday and Saturday nights, until 27^th February with a matinee at 2.00 pm on 21^st February.

         It is 1989, at the height of the feminist era, in grandmother, Emma’s (Judith Laudehr) Perth home. Christmas has just passed, and like most festive periods, there has been bitching and ill will between the three generations of women.

         Alex (Liz Hartley Connor), an intelligent business woman living in Melbourne, is subdued and trying to work out the best way of breaking the news of her new love affair to her family. Yuppie mother, Sylvia (Judy St. Clair), who is far more concerned with her image than her two daughters is a miserable, money-grabbing female who is trying to get her senile mother out of her home. But is Emma as geriatric as Sylvia thinks? And why does Tom, the sexagenarian next door, keep calling around?

        Alex decides to talk to her Aunt Pat, (Sharon Edsall) who is trapped in a lack lustre marriage, after all Pat is a bit of a raver and will understand her feelings.

       Monica, Alex's gullible and extremely house-proud sister (Sarah Cosstick) has trouble coping with her husband’s infidelities.

       By the time New Year’s Eve arrives, will the inevitable rift develop? Or will the family bond in the end?

Life is just like a jigsaw puzzle, sometimes all the pieces fit an life is wonderful, but more often they do not.

Nowadays I am not too sure whether the MA+ warning is necessary, as school kids know more than their elders, in fact with Melville’s ‘The Return’ the warning should have been for over 70s.

This play was launched in 1988, and although the punch of some of the messages may be a little passé, the main theme is still as relevant today. In the wrong hands, this play would have been insipid and possibly boring, however director Sue Hayward – as always – has a firm grip on the meaning and significance of the script. This play deals with sensitive issues, but they are beautifully blended into the very good, natural dialogue.

With such a topic it also takes the courage for the actors to throw inhibitions to the wind and get right into the part, any apprehension would have destroyed the whole effect. The cast left their safety zones and came to the party.

Because of the strong direction, acting and a very well constructed script which was tight and very funny, the result was that the out-datedness disappeared, and a pleasant evening of quality acting resulted. Certainly worth the trip to the Deep South – 25 minutes away.