The Fiction Makers
Wed, 8 Sept 2010, 08:59 amGordon the Optom3 posts in thread
The Fiction Makers
Wed, 8 Sept 2010, 08:59 am‘The Fiction Makers’ is a brand new, 2-hour drama by WA playwright Kate Rice. The play is directed by Jeremy Rice and his assistant director, Kate Hart. This premiere is being presented at the Hayman Theatre Upstairs, Building 102, Curtin University, Bentley with all shows at 8.00 pm until Saturday 11th September.
It is 1962, the hippy era, and lonely, withdrawn Donald (Charles Wu) has just arrived from dull Geraldton, to live in with his aunt in Dalkeith. As ever, Donnie is to be found sitting in a cinema watching Natalie Wood films. We catch the final striptease scene from ‘Gypsy’ before Natalie (Kirsty Marillier, who celebrated her 20th birthday with this premiere) returns to her dressing room to face her angry father. As Donnie fanaticises and soaks up every treasured moment, his Aunt Norma (Sophie Joske) arrives and drags him out of the cinema. She tells him to join the real world and get a job.
An old friend Walter (Andrew Thom) suggests that Donnie works with him in Boans department store. Walter is a supervisor and selects the new staff. We watch as he uses politically incorrect methods of training for the gorgeous new girls, Beverly (Louise Cocks) and her friend Jean (Violette Ayad). Donald, desperate to prove himself to be an interesting individual and boost his mojo, (for the younger readers, a mojo was originally a voodoo charm bag, but in the 60’s referred to self-esteem in the Afro-American culture) tells Beverly a little white lie, which like Topsy just growed and growed.
Soon it is difficult with Donald to know what is real and what is fantasy, and as for Beverly, is she all she appears to be? Who is this Barbara Gorgiss (Holly Garvey) that Donnie is seeing secretly?
The writer and director have workshopped this play, along with a dozen Performance Studies Course students, allowing it to develop. There are four short delightful episodes, written by four Curtin Creative Writing students Michael Collins, Vanessa Karas, Karen Murphy and Erin Nota, which are blended into the script. This writing development experience has allowed the youngsters to investigate a previous era and examine how people lived, their expressions and expectations.
The script could be thinned in areas, but it is still strong proof that very good, locally produced plays are possible. A very strong cast, with special mention of Charles Wu, who manages to capture the character of Donnie marvellously.
Michael Collins sensitively operated the moody lighting designed by Tess Reuvers. Well-cued sound from Jade Unwin.
Designer Kate Hart and her assistant Brittany Young have produced some wonderful costumes of the time, and her set design along with excellent props (Hayley Daffin, Linzi Sorrell) confirms the swinging sixties.
A fun show, very well acted, that shows the dangers of spinning a few white lies – or were they? Thoroughly enjoyed it.
It is 1962, the hippy era, and lonely, withdrawn Donald (Charles Wu) has just arrived from dull Geraldton, to live in with his aunt in Dalkeith. As ever, Donnie is to be found sitting in a cinema watching Natalie Wood films. We catch the final striptease scene from ‘Gypsy’ before Natalie (Kirsty Marillier, who celebrated her 20th birthday with this premiere) returns to her dressing room to face her angry father. As Donnie fanaticises and soaks up every treasured moment, his Aunt Norma (Sophie Joske) arrives and drags him out of the cinema. She tells him to join the real world and get a job.
An old friend Walter (Andrew Thom) suggests that Donnie works with him in Boans department store. Walter is a supervisor and selects the new staff. We watch as he uses politically incorrect methods of training for the gorgeous new girls, Beverly (Louise Cocks) and her friend Jean (Violette Ayad). Donald, desperate to prove himself to be an interesting individual and boost his mojo, (for the younger readers, a mojo was originally a voodoo charm bag, but in the 60’s referred to self-esteem in the Afro-American culture) tells Beverly a little white lie, which like Topsy just growed and growed.
Soon it is difficult with Donald to know what is real and what is fantasy, and as for Beverly, is she all she appears to be? Who is this Barbara Gorgiss (Holly Garvey) that Donnie is seeing secretly?
The writer and director have workshopped this play, along with a dozen Performance Studies Course students, allowing it to develop. There are four short delightful episodes, written by four Curtin Creative Writing students Michael Collins, Vanessa Karas, Karen Murphy and Erin Nota, which are blended into the script. This writing development experience has allowed the youngsters to investigate a previous era and examine how people lived, their expressions and expectations.
The script could be thinned in areas, but it is still strong proof that very good, locally produced plays are possible. A very strong cast, with special mention of Charles Wu, who manages to capture the character of Donnie marvellously.
Michael Collins sensitively operated the moody lighting designed by Tess Reuvers. Well-cued sound from Jade Unwin.
Designer Kate Hart and her assistant Brittany Young have produced some wonderful costumes of the time, and her set design along with excellent props (Hayley Daffin, Linzi Sorrell) confirms the swinging sixties.
A fun show, very well acted, that shows the dangers of spinning a few white lies – or were they? Thoroughly enjoyed it.
Gordon the OptomWed, 8 Sept 2010, 08:59 am
‘The Fiction Makers’ is a brand new, 2-hour drama by WA playwright Kate Rice. The play is directed by Jeremy Rice and his assistant director, Kate Hart. This premiere is being presented at the Hayman Theatre Upstairs, Building 102, Curtin University, Bentley with all shows at 8.00 pm until Saturday 11th September.
It is 1962, the hippy era, and lonely, withdrawn Donald (Charles Wu) has just arrived from dull Geraldton, to live in with his aunt in Dalkeith. As ever, Donnie is to be found sitting in a cinema watching Natalie Wood films. We catch the final striptease scene from ‘Gypsy’ before Natalie (Kirsty Marillier, who celebrated her 20th birthday with this premiere) returns to her dressing room to face her angry father. As Donnie fanaticises and soaks up every treasured moment, his Aunt Norma (Sophie Joske) arrives and drags him out of the cinema. She tells him to join the real world and get a job.
An old friend Walter (Andrew Thom) suggests that Donnie works with him in Boans department store. Walter is a supervisor and selects the new staff. We watch as he uses politically incorrect methods of training for the gorgeous new girls, Beverly (Louise Cocks) and her friend Jean (Violette Ayad). Donald, desperate to prove himself to be an interesting individual and boost his mojo, (for the younger readers, a mojo was originally a voodoo charm bag, but in the 60’s referred to self-esteem in the Afro-American culture) tells Beverly a little white lie, which like Topsy just growed and growed.
Soon it is difficult with Donald to know what is real and what is fantasy, and as for Beverly, is she all she appears to be? Who is this Barbara Gorgiss (Holly Garvey) that Donnie is seeing secretly?
The writer and director have workshopped this play, along with a dozen Performance Studies Course students, allowing it to develop. There are four short delightful episodes, written by four Curtin Creative Writing students Michael Collins, Vanessa Karas, Karen Murphy and Erin Nota, which are blended into the script. This writing development experience has allowed the youngsters to investigate a previous era and examine how people lived, their expressions and expectations.
The script could be thinned in areas, but it is still strong proof that very good, locally produced plays are possible. A very strong cast, with special mention of Charles Wu, who manages to capture the character of Donnie marvellously.
Michael Collins sensitively operated the moody lighting designed by Tess Reuvers. Well-cued sound from Jade Unwin.
Designer Kate Hart and her assistant Brittany Young have produced some wonderful costumes of the time, and her set design along with excellent props (Hayley Daffin, Linzi Sorrell) confirms the swinging sixties.
A fun show, very well acted, that shows the dangers of spinning a few white lies – or were they? Thoroughly enjoyed it.
It is 1962, the hippy era, and lonely, withdrawn Donald (Charles Wu) has just arrived from dull Geraldton, to live in with his aunt in Dalkeith. As ever, Donnie is to be found sitting in a cinema watching Natalie Wood films. We catch the final striptease scene from ‘Gypsy’ before Natalie (Kirsty Marillier, who celebrated her 20th birthday with this premiere) returns to her dressing room to face her angry father. As Donnie fanaticises and soaks up every treasured moment, his Aunt Norma (Sophie Joske) arrives and drags him out of the cinema. She tells him to join the real world and get a job.
An old friend Walter (Andrew Thom) suggests that Donnie works with him in Boans department store. Walter is a supervisor and selects the new staff. We watch as he uses politically incorrect methods of training for the gorgeous new girls, Beverly (Louise Cocks) and her friend Jean (Violette Ayad). Donald, desperate to prove himself to be an interesting individual and boost his mojo, (for the younger readers, a mojo was originally a voodoo charm bag, but in the 60’s referred to self-esteem in the Afro-American culture) tells Beverly a little white lie, which like Topsy just growed and growed.
Soon it is difficult with Donald to know what is real and what is fantasy, and as for Beverly, is she all she appears to be? Who is this Barbara Gorgiss (Holly Garvey) that Donnie is seeing secretly?
The writer and director have workshopped this play, along with a dozen Performance Studies Course students, allowing it to develop. There are four short delightful episodes, written by four Curtin Creative Writing students Michael Collins, Vanessa Karas, Karen Murphy and Erin Nota, which are blended into the script. This writing development experience has allowed the youngsters to investigate a previous era and examine how people lived, their expressions and expectations.
The script could be thinned in areas, but it is still strong proof that very good, locally produced plays are possible. A very strong cast, with special mention of Charles Wu, who manages to capture the character of Donnie marvellously.
Michael Collins sensitively operated the moody lighting designed by Tess Reuvers. Well-cued sound from Jade Unwin.
Designer Kate Hart and her assistant Brittany Young have produced some wonderful costumes of the time, and her set design along with excellent props (Hayley Daffin, Linzi Sorrell) confirms the swinging sixties.
A fun show, very well acted, that shows the dangers of spinning a few white lies – or were they? Thoroughly enjoyed it.
crgwllmsFri, 10 Sept 2010, 12:36 am
Yes, I agree. (What? With Gordon?)
Yes, I agree.
I was unfortunately tired and not particularly in the mood to watch a show...circumstances that would have made me grumpy had I not enjoyed it.
I found it quite thoroughly enjoyable. Changed my mood. Particularly found Andrew Thom entertaining, but everyone was solid.
A quirky, odd script, nicely performed; and a production that never took itself too seriously but always retained a sense of fun.
Worth seeing.
Cheers,
Craig
~<8>-/====\---------
Walter PlingeSun, 12 Sept 2010, 12:32 pm
'Sensitively operated'
'Sensitively operated' lighting? 'Well-cued sound'?
Gordon, you're a classic!