GRADS - "How to lose friends and offend some people" Ron Banks

REVIEW IN TODAYS WEST AUSTRALIAN - RON BANKS WITH FRIENDS LIKE THESE - DOLPHIN THEATRE Based on what I saw of the opening night, GRADS has made an error of judgment in allowing Edgar Metcalfe's previously unproduced play to go ahead. No doubt it was motivated by a desire to say farewell to Metcalfe, who retires home to England after the season, in the nicest possible way. To acknowledge this contribution to theatre over 50 years by allowing him to direct the only play of the six he has written that had not seen the light of day. Big mistake. The first half is embarrassing, simply unfunny and tasteless in the extreme. I confess to having fled at interval, so I cannot tell you the ending. One sensible couple fled during the scene change in act one. My main objection is the way the play makes fun of a character who is given a very bad stutter. The poor actor given the stutter's lines (I won't name him because he probably has a day job) must engage in the most egregious vocal contortions to get his words out, and it is embarrassing and uncomfortable to watch. And it is definitely not funny. To caricature such an afflication is such an offensive move that I'm surprised that Metcalfe surrended to the temptation in his supposed comedy of manners about a group of people gathered for a party to celebrate the marriage of the stutterer to a young woman whi is pregnant to another man. Surely someone in GRADS was offended by the tasteless portrayal and wanted to speak up about it's inclusion. But with Metcalfe as writer and director - and also a board member of the company - this might have been stifled by fear of offending the playwright. Well it offended me and I'm speaking up about it. There is a temptation to let these types of productions slide under the radar because they are put on by enthusiastic amateur thespians.But they do charge money for people to see them and people should be warned. Apart from the problem of the stutter, the first half lacks wit or cleverness ............................. _____________________________________________________________________________________________ We saw that show on Saturday and overall enjoyed it. According to their website Edgar is not a part of the GRADS committee. Wondering if Mr Banks has gone for a final farewell attack hoping to cause an effect? Edgar has achieved many wonderful things in theatre and she be recognised as such - it will be a loss for Perth when he heads home to Blackpool Mx