GRADS - "How to lose friends and offend some people" Ron Banks
Tue, 29 June 2010, 12:13 pmmillie8112 posts in thread
GRADS - "How to lose friends and offend some people" Ron Banks
Tue, 29 June 2010, 12:13 pmREVIEW 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 .............................
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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
Having seen this play
Wed, 30 June 2010, 05:51 pmWalter Plinge
Having seen this play myself I am not entirely opposed to Mr Banks review. It was unprofessional that he did not stay for the entire duration of the play as it did not allow him the opportunity to vaildate his remarks, nor rectify them if he so chose.
I personally agree that the play seems to have been produced mainly to appease the director and a lack of true consideration was employed when dealing with the dramatic material. The play is not aimed at a particular audience - except those who might share the playwright's sense of humour. The humour therein is not transcribable to a lot of the people who go to see it.
The addition of a character with a stutter was not, in my opinion, intended to bring offense - the reactions of the other character's to the affliction even invokes sympathy to that character.
I found the play to be watchable, the performers do a convincing portrayal of their characters - notably the loud mouthed Sandy. The pregnancy storyline however was fairly transparent and also highly unbelievable - I doubt someone who looks as beautiful as Nell (at least from the 4 or 5 metres distance) would actually sleep with a man of Frank's stature and age - particularly when her own fiance is quite aesthetically pleasing.
The main failing of this show is not in its execution but in its conception - the show could do with a rewrite and a discussion with someone more aware of modern day humour. The set and performance I found to be adequate enough.
All in all I did not mind this show - such a long run was not advisable however as it results in the need to sell tickets via word of mouth. I would not advertise this production as it did not standout. I just think it deserved a review from someone objective who stayed for the whole duration of the show