John Pollak

Our Father Who Art (Nearly) In Heaven @ Reginald Theatre Seymour Centre

The ambit of this play felt too wide and overly ambitious …

The scenario finds an old man dying and various relatives gather at his bed side to ostensibly pay their respects. In reality they have come to ensure that they wont be forgotten when his estate is distributed.

Slapstick,  comedy, folly and  farce weave themselves through four or five, it could be even more absurd plots and agendas, that take up some ninety minutes of stage time.    

The dialogue is a a highlight featuring plenty of witty one-liners, sarcasm and double entendres.

This sort of theatre, where there is so much happening and a lack of a consistent focus, is a bit tricky to make work.

The cast perform with admirable skill and dedication. The rat bag son Damian, a manic theatrical producer, is played with a high octane mix of panache and eccentricity.

Summing up, an enjoyable but not so satisfying experience.

OUR FATHER WHO ART (NEARLY) IN HEAVEN is playing the Reginald Theatre at the Seymour Centre until Saturday 19 February.

CAST:-

Catherine Davis, Michelle Millgate, Nid Oswald, Kate Parker-Frost, Richard Clark, Douglas Kent, Daniel Hunter

CREATIVES:-

Writer- Nathan Gregory Finger, Directors- Stuart Owen and Chris Heaslip, Producer- Lucy Browning.

Published by John Pollak

John Pollak did Arts and Law at Sydney uni. He practised Law for a short while and went into business. He made too much money for his own good and today is not so much retired as having little to do. He plays tennis and carries the bags for his wife when she goes overseas. When prompted and badgered he does the occasional review. He goes to Ethiopia every now and then and where, with Professor McGuigan of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, he is bringing the Sodis Program for safer water to the Tigray region. When seen in public he is often hunched over a cup of coffee and a foccacio whilst immersed in a diabolical suduko. Or he is driving his wife to bridge.