Sydney playwright Bookie Robertson’s play THE OTHER SIDE OF THE AFTERNOON, was the winner of the 2021 Silver Gull Award, and is being presented as part of this year’s Sydney Fringe Festival.
The play is an offbeat young adult dramedy about Clive, a boy who wears a top hat to school (in case he goes back in time), Bianca, the cool girl who bullies him ( and might just have a crush on him), Xavier, the world’s worst stepbrother (who wants to be either a panel beater or a crime lord), Dylan, the school dropkick (who’s about to snap), and perhaps time travel.
It was a winning play and it is even more winning with Robertson’s excellent production. In theatre parlance it is often said writers shouldn’t direct their own work, because they are too close it. In this case however it worked out well. Robertson directs the play at a fast pace, and very playfully, with characters darting like lightning in and out of scenes.
It was kind of mesmerising. Farcical in style but it wasn’t actually a farce. What made the show particularly attractive was the warm, open hearted performances of the cast.
Sam Wallace was a lot of fun as the main character Clive who comes up with this theory that if one concentrates really hard one can get to the other side of the afternoon, a place in one’s past where things are fresher, better and more magical. The other kids in school are of-course fascinated and want to give it a try.
Dominigue Purdue is excellent as Dylan Brady who finds herself in a lot of trouble after she punches a teacher in the face. She has the police chasing her around the stage and is definitely in the mood to fast track a trip to the other side of the afternoon.
Sophie Teo is a delight as Bianca Zhu. She starts the play as a kind of Mean Girl who can’t stand Clive. She is forced to share a school desk with Clive and can’t stand it. Clive breaks the ice with her when he tells her that he can time travel. Suddenly Clive is cool in her eyes, and there’s just a tad of romance in the air.
Sam Martin is a hoot as Clive’s outrageous stepbrother Xavier who is full of manic energy and plays up to the audience and becomes a favourite with them. One of the best scenes in the play is a at the family dinner table when he gives his father the rise when he declares his ambition to be a working class panel beater against his conservative father’s wishes.
Rebekah Parsons plays one of Bianca’s girlfriends AJ. Rounding out the cast are Brendan McBride and Lisa Hanssens who play a variety of characters including Clive and Xavier’s under the pump parents.
Robertson’s talented creative team comprised chiefly of set and costume designer Blake Hedley, lighting designer Dany Akbar, sound designer Paris Bell, and composer Ben Bauchet.
THE OTHER END OF THE AFTERNOON was full of whimsy and fun. In its own way, a little bit of magic.
It was good to see the New Theatre put on something light and breezy for a change.
The show is playing until Saturday 1 October 2022.
PERFORMANCES
Thu 22 – Sat 24 September 7:30pm
Sun 25 September 5pm
Thu 29 & Fri 30 September 7:30pm
Sat 1 October 2pm
TICKETS
Full $25
Concessions, Groups (6+) $20
Previews $15
BOOKINGS
https://sydneyfringe.com/
WEBSITE
https://newtheatre.org.au/the-
Production photography by Troy Kent