Theatremakers are often adventurous people. They try to come up with a new slants, new approaches to their subjects, to make the theatrical experience brighter, bolder and more interesting. One has to admire their risk taking, their courage, though the results of this experimentation can be quite varied.
For his new play SEVENTEEN, Matthew Whittet has chosen a subject that, over time, has been popular for dramatists to explore, the experiences of young people on the verge/the cusp of adulthood. Through the play we follow the adventures/experiences of a group of teenagers as they celebrate their first night of freedom after twelve long years of schooling. A lot ‘goes down’ before the sun rises.
Whittet’s approach to his work has been bold, making some very intriguing choices. He has asked six veterans- of the Australian stage, all but one in their seventies, to play his array of adolescent characters whom he has based loosely on how he envisaged they would have been like as youngsters.
There was a genuine buzz in the Belvoir Street foyer prior to last Wednesday night opening. There was this expectation that we were going to see something special, and the audience wasn’t to be disappointed.
The play was a sensitively written, authentic, well crafted work. As one would expect, these six legends of the Australian theatre stepped up to the age challenge with ease. The thrill was in seeing them have so fun stepping into their characters.
Peter Carroll played the wistful Tom who after spending his high-school years being a very dependable, careful person was now interested in taking more risks and getting more out of life.
John Gaden was Tom’s straight-shooter best friend Mike with Genevieve Lemon playing his livewire and a little ditsy younger sister, Lizzy.
Anna Volska did a lot with her role as the prissy, inhibited, uptight Edwina, and Maggie Dence played her more mature girlfriend, Sue.
Barry Otto played the nerdy, nervy, loner Ronny.
The show featured many fine moments and was particularly good in capturing tender, affectionate moments between the characters.
The stand-out scene, without a doubt, was when the cast grooved to Shake It Off, a Taylor Swift tune, showing that even at their advanced ages, they could still make all the right moves.
Anne-Louise Sarks creative team brought Whittet’s world vividly to life.
Robert Cousins playground setting worked well. Paul Jackson’s lighting design was particularly impressive,
Well worth a visit, SEVENTEEN, directed with flair by Anne-Louise Sarks, is playing upstairs at Belvoir Street until the 13th September.
Performance times are- Tuesdays at 6.30pm, Wednesdays to Fridays at 8pm, Saturdays 2pm and 8pm, and Sundays 5pm. There is a performance for the unwaged on 2pm Thursday 10th September.
Cast- Peter Carroll as Tom, Maggie Dence as Sue, John Gaden as Mike, Genevieve Lemon as Lizzy, Barry Otto as Ronny, Anna Volska as Edwina.
Creatives- Director- Anne-Louise Sarks, Set Designer- Mel Page, Lighting Designer- Paul Jackson, Composer- Alan John, Sound Designer- Nate Edmonson, Dramaturg- Anthea Williams, Choreographer- Sara Black, Movement Director- Scott Witt, Stage Mananger- Luke McGettigan, Assistant Stage Manager- Vanessa Martin.