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Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, November 25, 2015 - Page 45
Observer Showbiz
Local Theatre With Cheryl Threadgold
‘First Things First’ at Doncaster Accomplice
● Gregor McGibbon (Director) with actors Steven Carroll, Sarah King, Elise D’Amico and Stephen Barber in Accomplice. Photo: Gary Fevreau, Photosense ■ The Basin Theatre Group is currently staging a thoroughly enjoyable production of Accomplice, a whodunit with so many dizzying twists and turns you don’t know what’s the truth, or even what is real, “until the final curtain”. Throwing the audience straight into the action, the play opens with a bored, sex-starved woman trying to murder her dull, predictable husband in their English holiday house. Or is it just a rehearsal of the real event for the woman and her lover? More and more questions arise as the play unfolds. Who will murder whom and how? The ultimate question is: who is the accomplice? The excellent script by Rupert Holmes is deliciously cheeky and keeps the audience laughing as well as it keeps them guessing. It has a speedy pace punctuated only by some very slow scene changes. A talented cast of four rise to the challenge of a tricky plot. As the action unfurls, it becomes apparent just how talented they are. Stephen Barber is most exciting to watch, with his polished characterisation and endless energy. A very natural performer, he easily portrays charming yet brutal, frigid yet affable, all simultaneously. Steven Carroll is also engaging, and masterfully deceptive. He creates distinctly different characters that are each utterly convincing. Sarah King does cold and cruel very well and Elise D’Amico is delightful. The impressive set, designed by director Gregor McGibbon, is enticing and looks skilfully constructed, though it isn’t quite as well utilised as it promises at lights up. However, there are some extremely clever and exciting moments when it comes to its design. Performance Season: Until December 5 Times: Thurs-Sat 8pm; Sun 2pm (Sat Dec 5 matinee only) Venue: The Basin Theatre, Doongalla Rd, The Basin Bookings: www.thebasintheatre.org.au or 1300 784 668 - Deborah Marinaro
L A MAMA THEATRE
● Sandy MacGregor ■ As the show started at La Mama I wondered “who is this woman and will I care about her?” By end I did care. I jumped on my phone, texting, ‘you’ve got to see this show”. Sandy Macgregor is mesmerising. She is a brilliant story teller with a story to tell. Whilst I did not know her or her work I knew of the shows she had been in and some of the famous people she had associated with. To hear her tell of her highs and lows as an actress in Australia and the US was fascinating. Nothing is needed other than the woman herself. Rather than another actor telling her story, she does so brilliantly, reliving every second and taking the audience with her on a powerful journey. For seventy minutes I followed her story, visualising every joy as her eyes lit up and feeling the pain as she reminisced about the low times. I cried, I laughed and it was genuine. Shit Happens deserves to be on the stage with a full house and Sandy Macgregor in full glory telling it, to anyone interested in the world of entertainment or anyone who likes a generous well told, honest human interest story. This woman is unique. - Review by Elizabeth Semmel
Melbourne
Observer BAREFOOT IN THE PARK
SHOWS ■ Sherbrooke Theatre Company: First Things First (by Derek Benfield) Until November 28 at the Doncaster Playhouse, 679 Doncaster Rd., Doncaster. Director: Annie Blood. Tickets: $25/ $23. Bookings: 1300 650 209. ■ Brighton Theatre Company: Barefoot in the Park (by Neil Simon) Until November 28 at the Brighton Arts and Cultural Centre, Carpenter St., Brighton. Director: Lesley Batten. Bookings: 1300 752 126 www.brightontheatrecompany.com ■ Torquay Theatre Troupe: Away (by Michael Gow)_ Until November 28 at 16 Price St., Torquay. Director: Stacey Carmichael. Tickets: $20/$17. Bookings: 5261 4218. ■ The Basin Theatre Group: Accomplice Until December 5 at The Basin Theatre, Doongalla Rd., The Basin. Director: Gregor McGibbon. Bookings: www.thebasintheatre.org.au 1300 784 668. ■ Beaumaris Theatre: Fawlty Towers (by John Cleese and Connie Booth) Until November 28 at Beaumaris Theatre, 82 Wells Rd., Beaumaris. Tickets: Director: Georgy Charles. $25/ $22. Bookings: www.beaumaristheatre.com.au ■ Williamstown Little Theatre: Over the River and Through the Woods Until December 5 at 2-4 Albert St., Williamstown. Director: Helen Ellis. Bookings wlt.org.au or 9885 9678 ■ Geelong Repertory Theatre Company: Daylight Savings (by Nick Enright) Until December 5 at 15 Coronation St., Geelong. Tickets" $26/$24. Bookings: 5225 1200 www.geelongrep.com ■ Peridot Theatre: God of Carnage (by Yasmina Reza) November 25-28, December 2-5 at 8pm, 2.15pm matinees on November 22, 28, 4.00pm twilight matinee November 29 at the Unicorn Theatre, Lechte Rd., Mt Waverley. Director: Tim Long. Bookings: 9898 9090 (if using a mobile) or by email to peridotboxoffice@yahoo.com.au ■ Frankston Theatre Group: Tiptoe Through the Tombstones (by Norman Robbins) Until December 5 at 8pm, 2pm matinees November 29, December 5 at Mt Eliza Community Community Centre, Canadian Bay Rd., Mt Eliza. Tickets: $28/$26 Ch 10-15 $15, Under 10 $10. Cabaret style seating. BYO nibblies and drinks. Bookings: 1300 665 377. ■ The 1812 Theatre: Moonlight and Magnolias (by Ron Hutchinson) Until December 12 at 3-5 Rose St., Upper Ferntree Gully. Director: Loretta Bishop. Tickets: $27. Bookings: 9758 3864 www.1812theatre.com.au ■ Adelphi Players: Little Red Riding Hood Panto (by Fred Rome) December 6 - 13 (Matinees 1.30pm and 3.15pm) at Booran Road Hall, 264 Booran Rd., Ormond. All tickets $10. Bookings: 9690 1593.
AUDITIONS ■ Essendon Community Theatre: Five Women Wearing the Same Dress (by Alan Ball), November 29 at 6pm and December 1 at 7pm at the Bradshaw Street Community Hall, Bradshaw St., West Essendon. Director: Natasha Boyd. Audition bookings essential: 0413 188 513. ■ Off the Leash Theatre: Next to Normal November 28. Director: Nicholas Kong. Enquiries: www.offtheleash theatre.com.au ■ Sunshine Community Theatre: Fawlty Towers November 29 at 2pm.. Director: Alan Barratt. Enquiries: 0407 172563. ■ Eltham Little Theatre: The Ten Minute Play Competition November 29 at 7[pm at the Eltham Performing Arts Centre, 1603 Main Rd., Research. Producer: Pauline Armstrong. Enquiries: www.elthamlittletheatre.org.au ■ Malvern Theatre Company: Cash on Delivery November 29, 30 at 2A Burke Rd., Malvern. Director: Ewan Crockett. Bookings: 0414 991 141. ■ Frankston Theatre Group: The Odd Couple (Female) (by Neil Simon) December 13 at 1pm and December 14 at 7pm at The Shed, Cnr Somerset and Overport Rds., Frankston. Director: Ray Thompson. Audition bookings: 0419 304 650.
THE PROCESS
■ The Process, a razor-sharp satire on Australia’s refugee policy is being presented from December 2 -6 at the Metanoia Theatre, Brunswick. This play about refugees ‘in five dubious acts’, is written by Ian Robinson and directed by John Gauci. Performers include Rajendra Moodley, Jessica Muschamp and Paul Watson. Performance Season: December 2-6, Wed/Thurs/Fri at 7.30pm, Sat at 2.30pm and 7pm, Sun at 7pm Venue: Metanoia Theatre, 270 Sydney Rd., Brunswick Tickets: $30/$25. Bookings: 9387 3386 or http://metanoiatheatre.com
● Aimee Sanderson (Corie), Marc Jongebloed (Paul), Julie Arnold (Mrs Banks) and David McLean (Victor Velasco) in Brighton Theatre Company’s Barefoot in the Park. Photo: John Shelbourn ■ Paul and Corie Bratter are newlyweds in every sense of the word. He’s a straight-as-an-arrow lawyer and she’s a free spirit always looking for the latest kick. Their new apartment is her most recent find - too expensive with bad plumbing and in need of a paint job. After a six-day honeymoon, they get a surprise visit from Corie’s loopy mother and decide to play matchmaker during a dinner with their neighbour-in-the-attic Velasco, where everything that can go wrong, does. Paul just doesn’t understand Corie, as she sees it. He’s too staid, too boring and she just wants him to be a little more spontaneous, running ‘barefoot in the park’ would be a start ... Brighton Theatre Company’s production is directed by Lesley Batten. Performances: Until November 28. Venue: Brighton Arts and Cultural Centre, Carpenter St., Brighton. Bookings: 1300 752 126 www.brightontheatrecompany.com
THEATRE WORKS ■ Theatre Works is looking to recruit a CEO/Creative Producer. This leadership role is a remarkable opportunity for a creative leader with significant producing and programming experience to lead one of Melbourne’s premier independent theatre organisations. The CEO/Creative Producer is the public face of the company, and has overall responsibility for the development and delivery of the company’s artistic vision and is accountable to the Board for the financial and business management of the company. If meeting the following selection criteria and wanting the opportunity to lead Theatre Works into its next stage of development, they would love to hear from you. This a full time position for a three-year term. Selection Criteria: Essential Minimum of five years industry experience and two years in an equivalent position. Evidence of successful artistic program development and delivery in independent theatre, contemporary performance, arts festival or other relevant industry sector(s). Demonstrated knowledge of the independent theatre sector in Melbourne and Australia. Demonstrated familiarity with current developments in contemporary performance in Australia and internationally. Strong local, national and international networks. Evidence of successful development and management of relationships with key stakeholders, sponsors and funding partners. Demonstrated capacity in: strategic planning, financial management, fundraising, marketing, ability to work collaboratively in a team, and compliance management. Desirable Demonstrated dramaturgical/outside eye experience on productions. Experience in leading a venue based organization. Experience in implementing policies to maximise organisational and programming, diversity and inclusion. Experience in reporting to a committee of management or board of directors or similar. Appropriate graduate or postgraduate qualification. https://docs.google.com/forms/d/ 1MLEqauCAqiZlT2RHjgTPuFWv_hpUC9D1NGTvihpFQYM/ viewform