Summer of the Seventeenth Doll @ Glen Street Theatre

The Doll 1
A scene from the Doll. Production photos by Shane Reid

This is a classic play for a very simple reason. It is a very well written. Today it is an interesting study of an aspect of Australian culture as it was over sixty years ago. It brings the classic legend of the archetypal bushie into Melbourne’s urban environment.

The typical bushie was physically impressive and valued mateship and playwright Ray Lawler has managed to bring the outback into a theatre for a very dramatic character driven play.

Two cane cutters have spent the last sixteen summers or “the lay off” with Olive and Nancy. They work hard with their mates for the seven months of the cane cutting season and then come to the city to relax, celebrate and enjoy their time off. However, Nancy has recently married and Olive has convinced her fellow barmaid, Pearl, to stay with her when these great blokes from Queensland come to town.

This particular summer does not live up to the sixteen previous golden halcyon summers. Gradually during the play cracks and flaws are revealed. Olive has explained that her unconventional relationship with Roo is far better than all the marriages she sees in the pub and that the five months of the boy’s lay off is a glorious time.

When Pearl meets Roo and Barney she does not quite see what Olive has been so excited about. Pearl is a widow and single mother. She is reserved, prudish and sees herself as a more respectable and responsible person than the flamboyant and vivacious Olive. Their contrasting characters are just one interesting aspect of this play. The central interest is the tension and conflict between the various characters.

The standout performance, under Geordie Brookman’s direction, is Elena Carapetis as Olive. She gives a very modern and natural performance but is also funny, outlandish and at times angry, grumpy and distraught.

Jacqy Phillips, as Emma Leech, Olive’s cranky but wise mother delivers an excellent performance.

Just as Pearl’s reserved and respectable character contrasts with Olive’s, Lizzy Falkland’s portrayal of Pearl has similar contrasts, and is probably more in keeping with the time that the play was set and written in.

Other cast members are Chris Pitman, Annabel Matheson, Tim Overton and Rory Walker.

The impressive sets and costumes are by Pip Runciman, excellent lighting by Nigel Levings and the music with its haunting cello and atmospheric piano is by Quentin Grant.

SUMMER OF THE SEVENTEENTH DOLL is playing at the Glen Street Theatre, Belrose until the 24th May.