Cloudstreet???

>Cloudstreet a great success...an epic 4 hours on a warm night down at Fremantle on Saturday 28th feb. In brief, the direction was very clear, and seamless, almost musical. No pregnant pauses, no over use or under use of the stage, in all spaces - high, medium, low. It was a spectacle to behold i tell you. The best show I have seen ever in WA!The acting throughout the cast was superb! I don't have a cast list etc but some of the experienced notables like Max Cullen, Judy Farr,John Gagan were well cast. The younger members held their own on stage. I had not read the play beforehand so I knew nothing about it - boy was I surprised, and greatly so. To the point of envy. Only $36 well worth it for an unreserved seat. Don't worry I fought the other bastards off for a good aisle seat in the fifth row.I especially appreciated the casts ability to switch characters so quickly, costume and all - very slick indeed. This also helped with the pace, which was important since it was a very long show.A very interesting tale of two families.Its a pity some of the local snobbish professional and community directors did not see it, maybe then and only maybe we will see much better quality productions. Some of the plays I have seen of late sadly appear as if the directors were trying to rewrite how to direct, that whatever productions they were involved in beforehand somehow disappeared from their memories, that starting anew was the only way to go. It's starts with Commitment, 110% commitment - that's the challenge we all face. Enough of my soapbox!So if anyone else saw it then let's chat further!!!!
I know there's not much depth to this review, nor have I attempted to be as witty as some of our critics but mark my words it was well worth seeing - we all could learn from such a production, i can assure you!

woohoo!a review; as requested> The acting throughout the cast was superb! I don't have a cast
> list etc but some of the experienced notables like Max Cullen, Judy
> Farr,John Gagan were well cast. The younger members held their own
> on stage. I had not read the play beforehand so I knew nothing about
> it - boy was I surprised, and greatly so. To the point of envy. Only
> $36 well worth it for an unreserved seat. Don't worry I fought the
> other bastards off for a good aisle seat in the fifth row.Thanks, GarryJust as i expected; i've missed out on something really special!We don't see a lot of Neil Armfield's (director) work over here, but what we have seen and what i've seen over east is most inspiringi understand there is no chance of the show extending. Has anyone heard whether this show will be touring back to Perth at any stage? i hope we're going to get another chance to see it.Cheers
Grant

Cloudstreet - I didn't get to the box office quickly enough either and I've no excuse - I'm a 'friend'!
Isn't there anyone else out there in cyberspace from community theatre? come on ,let's hear from you, I know you don't answer snail-mail from the ITA but it'd be good to hear from SOMEONE, just so that I can be assured that my letters aren't disappearing into a giant black hole - or are they??????The Secretary!> woohoo!> a review; as requested>> Thanks, Garry> Just as i expected; i've missed out on something really special!
>> We don't see a lot of Neil Armfield's (director) work over here,
> but what we have seen and what i've seen over east is most inspiring
>> i understand there is no chance of the show extending. Has anyone
> heard whether this show will be touring back to Perth at any stage?
> i hope we're going to get another chance to see it.> Cheers
> Grant

> Cloudstreet - I didn't get to the box office quickly enough either
> and I've no excuse - I'm a 'friend'!Comiserations, Norma.> Isn't there anyone else out there in cyberspace from community
> theatre? come on ,let's hear from you, I know you don't answer snail-mail
> from the ITA but it'd be good to hear from SOMEONE, just so that I
> can be assured that my letters aren't disappearing into a giant black
> hole - or are they??????Well, i don't know that a reply from the "web-spinner" really qualifies... so here's hoping that we have some other visitors here very soonCheers
Grant

I hate to rub it in for those of you unfortunate to have missed Cloudstreet but I have to agree with Grant (Garry? sorry don't , word for word. It was the best play I have ever seen. I was lucky enough to go on Friday the 13th a cool night, also a full moon so that end scene was spectacular with the moon on the water, sure got those tears that were just trickling down my face to flooding down my face.I loved the older actors with the younger ones they complemented each other so much and gave the play a beautiful rhythm. I was blown away at what the actors gave us, so much energy and always in the character, especially given that nearly all of them had to play two or three roles, play music, do sound effects and set changes. I thought this play had the potential to be a technical nightmare but if there were any problems we never saw them. The music was also fantastic - Iain Grandage is a genius.I loved Kevin Smith as the 'story teller' he was wonderful.Word has it, that Cloudstreet will be doing the overseas festival tour after Adelaide and it is expected that they will do so well they will have continous seasons o/s and will never come back to Australia. Great for them but not for us.P.S. I also fought the bastards for the aisle seat in the fifth row!!!RegardsJudi

> I hate to rub it in for those of you unfortunate to have missed
> Cloudstreet but I have to agree with Grant (Garry? sorrysheez we even get mistaken for each other on the 'net!thanks for rubbing it in Judituh! just what i needed, confirmation that i'd missed a "once in a lifetime"hehehegreat to have you on board, in a manner of speakingi must ask...are you any relation to Alastair Cowie???Wonderingly,
Grant

So sorry about the mix up in names, sounds like it wasn't the first time this has happened, I'll try not to do it again . No I'm not any relation to Alastair Cowie (that I know of anyway!).Did anyone see House of America during the festival, I did and I would be really interested in other people's comments.RegardsJudi> sheez we even get mistaken for each other on the 'net!> thanks for rubbing it in Judi> tuh! just what i needed, confirmation that i'd missed a "once
> in a lifetime"> hehehe> great to have you on board, in a manner of speaking> i must ask...> are you any relation to Alastair Cowie???> Wonderingly,
> Grant