Robin Hawdon's SHADY BUSINESS!!!

Harbour Theatre, Fremantle's only and original community theatre for 46 years, is proud to present for our second production for 2010 in our new home, and the AUSTRALIAN PREMEIRE of:- Shady Business - Directed by award winning writer and director Nicola Bond was flawless. Nicola allowed the actors to utilize the space and this was well executed. The sadness that lies with Harbour theatre is the building they currently occupy. Theatre members have managed to convert a derelict old Port Cinema and transform the space in to a fantastic workable theatre with ample parking and close by coffee houses and restaurants... I urge all members of all groups to pull together with Harbour and help them raise as much awareness to GET this building into the hands of Harbour Theatre. This venue in my opinion is better than most London upper fringe venues, the space would be ideal for drama festivals/ ITA meetings/ Finley Nights. This is truly an exciting venue. So please use all means of media - Television / Radio / or any other services that offer grants so that this theatre that has stumbled across extremely difficult times for the past three years may have the power to purchase this ideal building. If I'm pushing hard here it is for the simple fact that the production I saw there last night was a laugh a minute. If you're like me and don't laugh out loud, you would of last night. Something I would most certainly like to do again. When the house lights dim and the stage lights appear,this is where the manic fun begins and what follows is a roller coaster of crazy events, mishaps and mistaken identities that doesn't stop until the last side-splitting conclusion. Shady Business focuses on Mandy who was beautifully played by Eilannin Dhu who had the audience applauding her on various occasions for superb delivery and timing. Sjaan Bosman’s fasted paced, charming and understated elegance of Tania, had most men in the audience shifting around in their seats. A remarkable performance. Two dancers working at a club owned by Mandy's boyfriend,'Big Mack' Michael Dornan, who is one of the biggest crime bosses in the area is simply in his element playing this shady, likeable East London rouge. Dornan manages with ease to paint the London underworld for this Fremantle audience with humor, style and experience, he utilizes the space with no effort and the audience’s faces light up every time ‘Big Mack Bad Boy – Dornan’ enters the scene. An Outstanding performance from Dornan who has now been added to the list of great male actor’s in Perth. Mandy, however, has fallen in love with another man, Gerry played excellently and quietly confidently by Andy Markland, a city broker she met at the club. Complications ensue when Terry played by laid back Adam Alliss, a new henchman, arrives with the weekly take from one of Mack's businesses. The money is short and the boss is on his way to collect. Now Mandy and Tania don't just have to hide Gerry, but also have to hide the missing grand and keep Mack and his muscleman – Dozer played brilliantly and never faltering by David Champion and who also produced vocal recordings for the production and the local loan shark - Harry the Hammer played by 'Harbour favorite' - Peter Kirkwood - from finding out the truth. Kirkwood is a delight to watch. He played the part of a hardened criminal wonderfully. He had all of the elements, the smile, the laugh and those seductive killer eyes. The lighting and sound operators proved success again in the fine hands of Robert Tagliaferri, Aaron Skinner and Jade Craig. The Stage Manager – Shareen Ghani and Assistant Phil Reading proved to be busy off stage making the magic appear on stage without a flaw. Congratulations. The set design and was designed beautifully by Nicola Bond and the construction was left in the capable hands of Matt Cuccovia, Phil Redding, the unforgettable Brian Mahoney, Aaron Skinner, Rob Tagliaferri, Peter Kirkwood, Nicola Bond, the endless veteran ‘ Harry Schultz and Liz Nicolas. A timeless piece of classic British Comedy which closed far too soon. Congratulations to Harbour Theatre and those that continue to fight for a permanent home for this award winning club. Lee Ousby GET DOWN TO THE NEXT PRODUCTION - A WONDERFUL SETTING.