Lighten up
Sat, 2 Nov 2013, 04:16 pmGordon the Optom1 post in thread
Lighten up
Sat, 2 Nov 2013, 04:16 pmPerformances are on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights at 8.00 pm, until 9th November. Matinees are at 4.00 pm on Sunday 3rd and 2.00 pm on the 10th November.
'SCHOOLIES' a comedy drama written and directed by Johnny Grim
At the request of the police, Mr Haines (Graeme Cross), the principal of a well to do Catholic College has arranged a meeting between Mr and Mrs Piperfield (Denys Lunn, Nicole Bennett), the respectable parents of one of the school’s top students, with Pete and Shirl Smeggs (Peter King, Michele Diston) the abysmal, bogan parents of a student from Thornbush High School – the worst in the area. Over a cup of tea, made by Myra, the school secretary (Genevieve Hanley) the awkward incident that occurred during 'Schoolies' week is fully aired.
This funny situation, which I am sure, will have occurred in Perth several times over the years, shows what happens when a rich family meet a rough couple. Johnny has filled the dialogue with comical malapropisms and well studied attitudes. Peter, who like many actors found their first chance at acting with Johnny, has blossomed. He was once a quietly spoken shy person, but here he gives it his all and brought forth many belly laughs. The rest of the cast were well tuned into the humour. Well done.
'THICK AND
THIN' a comedy character study, written by Johnny Grim, and
directed by Simon James.
Three loudmouthed, brash Chelsea Football supporters are watching their team play lowly Scunthorpe in the FA cup. There is Billy (Bree Vreedenburgh), for whom the soccer is secondary to the catering and the exciting choice of food available; then there is Max (Amanda Watson) with his designer stubble, very much under the control of wiry Ian (Rachael Maher), a typical London east-ender, ‘wiff orl’ the terminology and rapp hand movements ‘like’ .... Not only do they have the full supporters strip, but as Max explains, half the contents of their house are Chelsea jewels
Although there are plenty of laughs in this play, it is a particularly good character study of the typical fans. The three girls, who play male yobs, are excellent. A particular mention of Rachael Maher – who was totally unrecognisable – and had been picked straight from the soccer terraces. Could be trimmed back a little bit, but a good laugh for Johnny to end his life in Community Theatre – he intends to retire to some luxurious area with a harem and chilled wine. Thanks for several years of your kinky and quirky humour, and madcap plays.
The direction is excellent, with Simon – who has built up a reputation for his superb Terry Pratchett productions – goes light hearted here, producing a magnificent result.
'THE BALD PRIMA DONNA’ when written in the late 1940s by French / Rumanian author Eugene Ionesco it was originally called ‘The Bald Soprano’. This absurdist play has been performed in one Paris theatre – non-stop – for sixty years; every now and then a new interpretation is produced. This play is directed by Peter Nettleton. Pete has appeared in several comedies and directed quite a few genres of plays.
It is a quiet evening in the upper class, Smith’s home. As Mr Smith (Kaleb Withers) reads the Financial Times, his la-di-dah wife (Jocelyn Withers) explains what a difficult day she has had, searching for the best produce that England has to offer. The non sequiturs flow.
Mary, the dippy maid (Maria Passalacqua) enters and reminds the Smiths that they have visitors due any minute. Just as the couple leave to freshen up for the evening, their strange friends, Mrs Martin (Jess Messenger) and Mr Martin (Theo Messenger) arrive. They make themselves at home and chat about their day, although modern society has blurred their communication skills.
As the evening progresses, there is an emergency in the area and the fire chief (Willy Smeets) arrives to check out the home’s safety. When all is well, the play goes back in its cycle, to the opening lines – as though beginning all over.
The play seems to move along ‘normally’ until the last few minutes when the whole evening becomes absurd. Ionesco’s later plays were better structured, but still strange. Director Pete Nettleton has added – for me – an original little twist when the cast burst into song, before reverting to their meaningless lives. In many versions, the maid is the weird insane character, here one wonders if she is the most sane. Lovely performance from Maria.
A very difficult play to present. The two married couples (who are in fact married to each other) are wonderful; one wonders whether their lives are surreal. A slick presentation that, as intended, leaves everyone wondering.
Stage manager, Mario Piccoli who ensured a very quick
– and silent - change between the first and second plays also acted as lighting
designer and operator.
Three very different plays that will satisfy three diverse areas of your comedy mind.
Performances are on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights at 8.00 pm, until 9th November. Matinees are at 4.00 pm on Sunday 3rd and 2.00 pm on the 10th November.
'SCHOOLIES' a comedy drama written and directed by Johnny Grim
At the request of the police, Mr Haines (Graeme Cross), the principal of a well to do Catholic College has arranged a meeting between Mr and Mrs Piperfield (Denys Lunn, Nicole Bennett), the respectable parents of one of the school’s top students, with Pete and Shirl Smeggs (Peter King, Michele Diston) the abysmal, bogan parents of a student from Thornbush High School – the worst in the area. Over a cup of tea, made by Myra, the school secretary (Genevieve Hanley) the awkward incident that occurred during 'Schoolies' week is fully aired.
This funny situation, which I am sure, will have occurred in Perth several times over the years, shows what happens when a rich family meet a rough couple. Johnny has filled the dialogue with comical malapropisms and well studied attitudes. Peter, who like many actors found their first chance at acting with Johnny, has blossomed. He was once a quietly spoken shy person, but here he gives it his all and brought forth many belly laughs. The rest of the cast were well tuned into the humour. Well done.
'THICK AND
THIN' a comedy character study, written by Johnny Grim, and
directed by Simon James.
Three loudmouthed, brash Chelsea Football supporters are watching their team play lowly Scunthorpe in the FA cup. There is Billy (Bree Vreedenburgh), for whom the soccer is secondary to the catering and the exciting choice of food available; then there is Max (Amanda Watson) with his designer stubble, very much under the control of wiry Ian (Rachael Maher), a typical London east-ender, ‘wiff orl’ the terminology and rapp hand movements ‘like’ .... Not only do they have the full supporters strip, but as Max explains, half the contents of their house are Chelsea jewels
Although there are plenty of laughs in this play, it is a particularly good character study of the typical fans. The three girls, who play male yobs, are excellent. A particular mention of Rachael Maher – who was totally unrecognisable – and had been picked straight from the soccer terraces. Could be trimmed back a little bit, but a good laugh for Johnny to end his life in Community Theatre – he intends to retire to some luxurious area with a harem and chilled wine. Thanks for several years of your kinky and quirky humour, and madcap plays.
The direction is excellent, with Simon – who has built up a reputation for his superb Terry Pratchett productions – goes light hearted here, producing a magnificent result.
'THE BALD PRIMA DONNA’ when written in the late 1940s by French / Rumanian author Eugene Ionesco it was originally called ‘The Bald Soprano’. This absurdist play has been performed in one Paris theatre – non-stop – for sixty years; every now and then a new interpretation is produced. This play is directed by Peter Nettleton. Pete has appeared in several comedies and directed quite a few genres of plays.
It is a quiet evening in the upper class, Smith’s home. As Mr Smith (Kaleb Withers) reads the Financial Times, his la-di-dah wife (Jocelyn Withers) explains what a difficult day she has had, searching for the best produce that England has to offer. The non sequiturs flow.
Mary, the dippy maid (Maria Passalacqua) enters and reminds the Smiths that they have visitors due any minute. Just as the couple leave to freshen up for the evening, their strange friends, Mrs Martin (Jess Messenger) and Mr Martin (Theo Messenger) arrive. They make themselves at home and chat about their day, although modern society has blurred their communication skills.
As the evening progresses, there is an emergency in the area and the fire chief (Willy Smeets) arrives to check out the home’s safety. When all is well, the play goes back in its cycle, to the opening lines – as though beginning all over.
The play seems to move along ‘normally’ until the last few minutes when the whole evening becomes absurd. Ionesco’s later plays were better structured, but still strange. Director Pete Nettleton has added – for me – an original little twist when the cast burst into song, before reverting to their meaningless lives. In many versions, the maid is the weird insane character, here one wonders if she is the most sane. Lovely performance from Maria.
A very difficult play to present. The two married couples (who are in fact married to each other) are wonderful; one wonders whether their lives are surreal. A slick presentation that, as intended, leaves everyone wondering.
Stage manager, Mario Piccoli who ensured a very quick
– and silent - change between the first and second plays also acted as lighting
designer and operator.
Three very different plays that will satisfy three diverse areas of your comedy mind.