GRADS - With Friends Like These...

I've just read a copy of Ron Banks' shocking assassination of this production. First I should 'fess up that I have been involved as set builder, and that I am a friend of several castmembers. How a so called professional reviewer can deliver such a withering attack whilst admitting to only seeing the first half, is highly suspect. Does he have some personal negative history with Edgar? I watched both the opening night and the second performance. I was in fact seated close behind the couple who left early, and had heard several appreciative laughs from them. Maybe they got a text re. a babysitter crisis; who knows? Mr Banks leaves us in no doubt as to his feelings regarding a character in a comedy afflicted with a stutter. The other 80-odd audience members on both nights didn't seem to share his offended sensibilities. They stayed right to the end, laughed loudly and frequently, and applauded enthusiastically. Perhaps Banks has a close relative suffering this affliction: that would be the only logical explanation for his degree of vehemence. A fair reviewer, even if mentioning offence at that particular element, might also have mentioned the delightful performances from many of the cast - I would personally single out Kerri Hilton and Beth Legg. Don't be put off by the singularly one-eyed review. As a long term GRADS member, I am pleased to see the group presenting a new, local and thoroughly amusing light comedy. No doubt the penetration of "The West Australian" and Ron Banks' abuse of his media power will affect the success of the production disastrously, which is a real pity when so many of us have worked long and hard to mount a show which is far more worthy than he implies.