Days in the Dark

Kalamunda Dramatic Society (KADS) proudly presents Days in the Dark, a moral dilemma based on a novella by Henry James, written and directed by award winning WA playwright C. Aspden Pomfret.

Based on the Aspern Papers, a comparatively lesser-known tale by Henry James, it’s about two cloistered spinsters who have treasured up some unpublished writings of the great poet Jeffrey Aspern.

An intrepid, young literary historian attempts to prise these riches from them, and finds his ingenuity and morality stretched to the limit. Fully aware that Juliana Bordereau, Apsern’s mysterious muse, is ever wary of intruders, Ryan seeks advice from one Mrs Georgiana Prest, a celebrated patron of the arts and long time resident of Venice.

It is she who suggest he simply introduce himself to the reclusive spinsters as a person in search of lodgings, but whilst the ploy is ostensibly successful, and his stay in the Bordereau’s palace guaranteed for the summer, his desultory relationship with Tina is steeped in suspicion and somehow manipulated by the evasive Juliana. As the summer of 1910 creeps ever closer to Autumn, Ryan’s ultimate goal, while within reach, seems all the more unattainable.

Pomfret says “the audience can expect a good story both intelligently told and performed”.

Born in Atherton, England, Pomfret writes for both stage and screen. He is a late starter to playwriting and is extremely critical of his work. It was only under extreme pressure from friends that he submitted one of his plays, Mona, to Fremantle's Pocket Theatre in 2005, and that play became a hit with audiences.

Pomfret recently directed one of his one act plays Hooker From Hell, a hilarious look into the oldest profession in the world, at KADS as part of the 2010 one act season and received Best Director at the Hills Festival of Theatre (Marloo Theatre) and received the People’s Choice Award at the ITA State Drama Festival.

In 2006, his play Sex Toys was performed by Darlington Theatre Players, and it earned Pomfret the Adjudicator's Certificate for Inspired Playwriting at the ITA's State Drama Festival, which also took out the Dorothy Barber Best Overall Production award over 28 other plays.  In 2007 Pomfret was commended for his play Days of the Moribund at the Tod Hunter Literary Awards, and in 2009 he received an ITA Encouragement Award for Writing.

Days in the Dark will perform a four week season at the Town Square Theatre home of KADS on November 12, 13, 17, 19, 20, 24, 26, 27, December 1, 3 and 4. Tickets are available from O’Hara’s Pharmacy on Haynes St or by phone 9293 1412.

Featuring: Jo Isaia, Kylie Isaia, Jacqui Warner, Diana Graham, Lauren Lovelace and Steven Arrowsmith.

Doors and bar open at 7.30pm.

Tix: Wed & Fri $17/$15, Sat $24 includes Fish n Chip Supper (no conc)
Bookings: O'Hara's Pharmacy 9293 1412
39 Haynes St, Kalamunda (next to Brumby's) Visa & Mastercard accepted