Short and Sweet Theatre Sydney is the largest festival of ten minute plays in the world. Now in its 14th year, the festival takes place over a period of two months starting in January each year, with over 160 brand new scripts by Australian and international writers, are performed during the festival. Ten brand new plays this week:-
1. GOING VIRAL
Many many years after both Facebook and Youtube became unfashionable, two parents are in conversation with their now thirteen year old child, giving him the ultimate birthday gift, finally showing him his life so far, that all the photos and videos of the child’s whole life have been sold to the internet.
Writer: Brandon Crose
Director: Christine Wykes
Cast: Max Mulvenney (child), Tom Rose (Father), Katherine Babatzanis (Mother)
2. REGRET
Brian is 42 and wants to be married to the perfect woman, silent and obedient. He travels far to buy an obedient wife, but has he chosen wisely or unwisely? Unexpected outcomes and twists.
Writer: Joy Roberts
Director: Glen Pead
ITC: Improvising Change
Cast: James Belfrage (Brian), Katharine Marie Richardson (Oksana), Joanna Kedziora (Luba/Katie).
3. TRANSACTIONS
Prostitution is the oldest paid profession, and he has a strange fetish, but he only has enough money for ten minutes. She suddenly becomes unwilling to keep playing the strange role that he wants, so will they both get all that their hearts’ desires? A classic comedy delight, and an audience favourite.
Writer: Scott McAteer
Director: Ingrid Ganley
ITC: Hobart Quartet | Short+Sweet Hobart Winner
Cast: Ivano Del Pio, Karissa Lane
4. ROUGHING IT
Counselling recommended they take a second honeymoon, so they have gone camping, but their unresolved anger erupts with unexpected consequences.
Writer: Kylie Rackham
Director: Jovana Miletic
Composer: Roman Pechersky
Photographer: Nic Dracoulis
Cast: Alex Brown (Dave), Reka Gavaldi (Tracey)
5. SPIDEY GLASS
The superhero is very drunk, she is a mere mortal and is sober, and she is in his bedroom. Can he convince her to make a buying decision, to spend the rest of their lives together? Can he get that lucky?
Writer: Alex Langenfeld
Director: Daniel Cohn
Cast: Christian Heath (Josh), Kate Williams
6. GOD: THE PERFORMANCE REVIEW
Female God XJ7 is responsible for the Planet Earth, and the humans have not impressed God’s corporate employer, Universes Incorporated. Will God make the correct decision, to help mankind beat the challenge?
Writer: Allan West
Director: Simon Doctor
Cast: Benjamin Bonar (Jason), Leyla Hart-Svensson (Ms Parkes), Edith Hueck (God), Nick Wright (Mr Maxwell)
7. MORTGAGE
Comedy hi-jinks with Max the mortgage broker, that you never ever want to meet. Great comedy script expertly delivered by the perfect cast. Sandy and her husband Tim, an “equine bio-waste transportation engineer” end up with problems worse than the global financial crisis. Constant howls of laughter from a very appreciative audience.
Writer: Aaron Nilan
Director: Toast D’Bechamel
ITC: Actors Anonymous
Cast: Alastair Buchanan (Max), Jaymie Knight (Tim), Justine Keim (Sandy), Kat Morel (Girl with cat)
8. EVELYN
Evelyn has remained a battered housewife, she wants to kill him, but when her husband suddenly dies at home of a heart attack, she can not believe that God beat her to the kill, and she needs to catch up before her opportunity is lost.
Writer: Brett Heath
Director: Brett Heath
ITC: The Lo-La Co.
Cast: Brett Heath
9. DANCING ON A BLUE COMET
Comic book writer meets comic book editor, and connect over dream for a better and brighter future together.
Writer: Phillip Gallop
Director: Phillip Gallop
ITC: Lazy Eye Productions
Cast: Phillip Gallop (Cormac), Roslyn Hicks (Ashling)
10. HEART WRENCHED
A play within a play. The heroic prince comes to the climatic rescue of his captured princess, but real life establishes itself with comedic consequences, and unexpected twist after twist. An excellent comedy ended another night of great entertainment at Short + Sweet.
Writer: Isaac Owen
Director: Julian Ramundi
ITC: Crash Test Drama Sydney
Cast: Rosemary Ghazi (Princess), Sam Jenkins (Prince), Luke Jovanovic (Villain), Teresa Zaidan (Director)
In no particular order, the following plays were outstanding, well cast and directed, plus clever in content and performance:- REGRET, TRANSACTIONS, MORTGAGE, HEART WRENCHED.
Trying to pick the winner is impossible, as all four should win, but only one of these plays will be chosen for the Gala Final in March 2015.
Recommended, Short and Sweet Top 80 Week 3 is playing the New Theatre, 542 King Street, Newtown until the 25th January.
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