DON’S PARTY, presented by Redfern Acting School, is a most entertaining revival of the classic 1971 David Williamson play. Set on the night of the 1969 federal election it is an unflinching picture of an uncouth Australian suburbia with drunkenness, sexism, jealousy, domestic arguments and revenge. It is also a comedy with some excellent one-liners and the actors definitely succeed in bringing out the laughs.
The production is well cast. Ben Hunter is impressive as Don, the party’s host, who had got lost somewhere between the high hopes of university with his dreams of writing and his present domestic situation. Rachel Slee plays his rather boring wife Kath on anti-depressants and bitter her marriage is not working.
The only couple at the party who are not Labor followers are the very straight Simon played by Lachlan Donnelly, – who is however happy to listen in to others secrets and his overdressed wife Jodie played by Helen Shoobert. Jodie however has the chance to see another side of herself as the night progresses and inhibitions are left behind.
Evan Piefke has a fun role as Mal, a long-time friend of Don whose financial situation is not the best at present. There is a great rapport between Evan and Ben so we see deeply into their changing relationships over the years. Katerina Papasoulis plays Mal’s disengaged, sour faced wife Jenny brought to almost inertia by the feeling of being trapped and Mal’s failures.
Next Mack appears, played by Andrew Murdoch, a friend who has just left his wife, or did she leave him? We get a taste of his character as he puts up a nude picture of his wife and describes photographing her with other men.
The next couple to join this assortment of so called friends is Evan played by Ramy Moussa, an uptight dentist whose profession is in itself a the source of comedic moments, and his apparently ill-matched creative, rather snooty wife played by Amber Dyball.
The final pair, one could hardly describe them as a couple, are Granger Cooley played with great gusto by Dominic De Paolo out for anything and everything he can get, and the female student/stripper Susan, played by Kristen Zinghini, he has bought along for the night.
The set and costumes are true to the era as the cast moves back and forth from the kitchen, via the fridge and TV, to the lounge eating twisties and pizza.
Under the influence of alcohol and unhappiness the evening rapidly deteriorates as repressed feelings and tensions rear up. They talk about sex and even swapping partners, mainly as a foolish hope for something other than the realty of their lives.
The play is still confronting today in many of its aspects nearly 50 years after it was set and Travis McMahon’s direction ensures the actors bring out the full force of the emotions, loss and disenchantment the characters feel but with many comedic moments.
Definitely a classic worth viewing. DON’S PARTY from Redfern Acting Studio plays at Chippen Street Theatre, 45 Chippen Street, Chippendale till December 15.
