Lynn Belvedere

ALMOST NEARLY PARADISE @ EXCHANGE HOTEL BALMAIN

Almost Nearly Paradise by Brenda Gottsche-31

ALMOST NEARLY PARADISE is the new play by Australian playwright Brenda Gottsche and is having its premiere season in the theatre space within the Exchange Hotel Balmain .

The play starts with a book club meeting with just four ladies, occurs during a raging storm, on a mythical island paradise in our beautiful Pittwater. Alcohol fueled, and everyone has secrets, the night becomes a nightmare with dangerous revelations revealed. Late in the evening, Australia’s 48th richest man, Ian Thomson, smashes his way into their suburban lives.  He makes them a strange and alluring offer, but they  have to be careful.

The play has many unexpected twists and turns, with wicked and entertaining dialogue, and features some delicious one-liners. My favourite line of dialogue was   “He is unattached to the truth”.

This was a fun night in the theatre with a well chosen cast who each gave believable performances. The show was well directed by Roz Riley.

Brenda Gottsche’s ALMOST NEARLY PARADISE is playing the Exchange Hotel, 94 Beastie Street, Balmain until the 13th November. Performance times are Tuesdays to Friday evenings at 7:30pm and Sunday matinees at 5pm. There is no show on Saturdays.

Cast:-
Matthew Grego as Ian Tompson
Neil Modra as Sammy Henly
Pamela Rome as Jenny Henly
Kath Perry as Ann Watson
Sally Williams as Ellie Jordan
Debbie Neilson as Tiffany (Tiff) Nelson
Chantal Roberts as Barmaid Fi

Published by Lynn Belvedere

Once we were old enough, my parents took the whole family to the Sydney CBD cinemas every week. Thus began a lifetime interest, in going to the cinema every week, and became a passionate cinephile by watching all those very heavily edited ''Australian Film Censorship Board'' true cinéaste versions of brand new release ''Cinematograph Films''. Greater Union always gave my father (who worked in Cinema Distribution Exhibition) guest double movie passes, to every first-night ''red carpet Opening Night'' at The State Theatre Cinema at 49 Market Street. Up until his death, my dad always received ''two house seats'' for every Opening Night performance events at the Theatre Royal SYDNEY and at Her Majesty's Theatre SYDNEY. As a child, when mum choose not to go, I often went with him, to those live performance events. As a young child, I remember being taken for each new show, at both The New Theatre at 60 Sussex Street, and the Phillip Street Theatre when located at 150 Elizabeth Street, and for classical music concerts at Sydney Town Hall. = = = ★★★★★ = = = Being happy is a choice, and I have always viewed my life, as material ready be made into a series of amazing tentpole movies. My New Years Resolution is kept every year: ''Get to see/review five new live theatre shows each week, and get to see/review six new cinema movies each week'', plus is one of the Australian Cinema Pioneers, and apparently have seen far too much already, but always wanting to experience more and more each year. I am also able to do almost everything that I enjoy doing. Yes, I do have a great daytime job in I.T. as ''Software Design Project Manager'', PLUS each evening until quite late - - - Australian Cinematograph Films historical censorship consultant - product-placement consultant - mystery-shopper consultant - playwright, writer, author, director, producer, photographer, cinematographer, color-grader, subtitles proofreader - arts/ drama/ music/ film critic and judge, journalist, member FIPRESCI & FCCA & AFCA, member AACTA accredited film reviewer-critic-writer, accredited IMDB.COM critic-reviewer-author, projectionist, plus an innovative iconoclast - - - ★★★★★ LYNN BELVEDERE ★★★★★ - - - [usr 5] - - -