Last night at the Bondi Pavilion Theatre was a classic night of Australian theatre with the benefit of current skills and finesse that has come from forty years of experience and maturing in theatre production. I’m sure the Williamson’s enjoyed, as we did, the masterful interpretation, presentation and performance of this timeless piece.
Director Leland Kean says in his program note that his challenge to himself was to “approach the work from as fresh a perspective as possible.” and “…a lot of the issues that he (Williamson) was discussing in 1971 are as relevant if not more relevant today.” David Williamson, in the Press release, was “…very relieved that the play is being presented as happening in the seventies.”
The end result reflects the wisdom of these decisions. From the very start as we are reminded of (or introduced to) the wonderful seventies set, the iconic glass buffet unit and button studded velvet lounge, we are transported back to when P.C. meant Police Constable and sexism was open and proud! At the same time Kean has tweaked the performances to find just the right number of opportunities for humour which brought gales of laughter without compromising the still very telling messages of domestic and police violence and the often hapless plight of women trapped in marital stress!
The actors were exemplary. Laurence Coy’s Sergeant Simmonds was every bit as tough and bigoted as he should be but demonstrated a deft light comic touch in character and delivery with many of the great lines at his disposal (Coffin makers are important too!) Justin Stewart Cotta was a wonderful quietly menacing then manic and crazy bully.
The victim wife and sister-in-law were nicely characterized by Sophie Hensser and Caroline Brazier, respectively. Likewise Sam Atwell’s Removalist was a crack up with Sam O’Sullivan a credible Constable Ross. The final scenes were perhaps a little hysterical and incoherent but the fight sequences and classic low angle lighting were historic and fun.
I laughed and felt all the right emotions at the right times. This is the best production of this play I’ve seen. A must see.
Tamarama Rock Surfers Theatre Company’s production of David Williamson’s THE REMOVALISTS, directed by Leland Kean, opened at the Bondi Pavilion on Wednesday 22nd May and runs until Saturday 15th June, 2013