DOUBLE BILL AT THE EXCHANGE HOTEL

Roger Gimblett, Lib Campbell and Mark Langham. Pic Mark Banks

Two new Mark Langham plays are being performed in a new Double Bill at the Exchange Hotel in Balmain.

The evening starts with the very short THE BENEFITS OF HISTORY, written and directed by Mark Langham.

The scene is set with Gracie Fields singing a Second World War song. A boy & girl run in from the rain, swear, and look for a cup of tea. They are both in military uniform.

They commence chatting to each other and we find that Betty, played by Lib Campbell, is English, and Doug, played by Max Phillipson, is an Australian from Orange. They cannot say too much as “the walls have ears”, but their conversation is engaging (the blitz was not jolly) and they tease each other and then agree that London is bigger and brighter than Orange.

They cannot stay long and discuss the possibility of writing to each other. There is a twist, and a sweet ending. To reveal more would be beastly, as Betty would say, it’s enough to say that the denouement is clever and enjoyable.

The second play, NOTHING, written by Mark Langham and directed by Roger Gimblett, follows on immediately. Hamish, played by Mark Langham, has come round to help Derek, played by Roger Gimblett, mow his lawn. It looks like rain so rather than risk electrocution they start drinking in Derek’s shed.

Hamish gets a phone call offering tickets to the cricket but he is too lazy to have a shower and go to the SCG. Derek suggests Hamish may be depressed about the recent death of his wife Diana, and they should talk about it. Hamish is horrified at the thought of talking about coping and feelings.

Derek’s sister-in-law, an attractive younger real estate agent, played by Lib Campbell, joins the blokes in the shed as she has just had a horrible house viewing and needs a drink. She has just broken up with her rich boyfriend, ‘the chunky monkey’. She doesn’t feel sad about breaking up, much as Hamish is not angry about Diana’s death. As they become drunker their respective positions do not seem quite so rigid and certain.

They have a wide ranging, slightly drunken and disrespectfully humorous discussion about catching a husband and training him, settling for the comfortable life and finding joy in the everyday. The meat of this play is in this discussion. There are some weighty philosophical discussions interrupted by outbursts of “Like a rhinestone cowboy.” There is a nice balance of fun and seriousness.

The two plays run for about an hour, which leaves time to have some refreshments and explore the wonderful old Exchange Hotel. The double bill of plays and the pub combine to make for a very pleasant evening.

This Old Monk Production opened at the Exchange Hotel, Balmain on Tuesday 21st February, 2012, and runs until Sunday 4th March, 2012.

© Mark Pigott

21st February, 2012

Tags: Sydney Theatre Reviews- THE BENEFITS OF HISTORY and NOTHING by Mark Langham, Exchange Hotel Balmain, Lib Campbell, Max Phillipson, Roger Gimblett, Mark Banks, Mark Pigott, Sydney Arts Guide.