About ‘The Violet Hour’, currently playing at Kirribilli’s Ensemble Theatre. This is a contemporary play written by Broadway playwright Richard Greenburg, and Kate Gaul is directing its Australian premiere.
Greenburg sets his play in New York City in April, 1919 and the action takes place in the office and anteroom of fledgling publisher, John Pace Seavering. Seavering, has two manuscripts, but lacks the funds to publish both. Which work will he choose as his imprint’s first title, his lover’s (Jessie) memoirs or the novel by his best friend (Dennis)? Life is further complicated by the arrival in his office of a mysterious machine, that turns out pages of books from the future. Seavering learns how posterity views him, and he must decide whether to destroy his friend’s and lover’s hopes or grit his teeth and face the future.
It has been a while since I have seen a director and cast have as much fun with a play as with ‘The Violet Hour’. Where does this play fit in within the theatrical landscape? It is a witty, inventive, daring theatrical romp, and the cast play it to the hilt.
As John Pace Seavering, All Saints regular Mark Priestly headed the cast. He does well in a challenging role, playing a businessman, trying to make the best of his new venture, and being pressured by friends demanding a piece of the action. Priestly takes on board the role’s two main elements, the implicit angst and the comic,fast paced, farcical edge.
Nicholas Papademetriou made the most of what was perhaps the best role in the play, playing Seavering’s assistant, Gidger. Papademetriou got the opportunity to use all his comic flair in a part that required him to be overworked, frenetic and zany. He sparked whenever he was on stage.
Thomas Campbell, a 2002 NIDA graduate, did some good work as Seavering’s best friend, Dennis McCleary. His character is a wimpy, needy sort of person who wants to be a great writer. He has found a new girlfriend, Rosamund, who he thinks is his great love, and with whom is sharing his ‘Violet Hour’. The only problem is that he has told his girlfriend that his book has already been published and now Seavering is saying he might not publish it. He leans on Seavering in a big way!
Genevieve O’Reilly has a great time of it as Rosamund. Replete with a blonde wig and flowing costumes. O’Reilly strikes all the right notes, looking gorgeous and being outrageously flirtatious, a bit of a sex bomb. Genevieve Davis played the role of Jessie Brewster, and contributed glamour, and a nice, light touch.
Kate Gaul’s directed ‘The Violet Hour’ with plenty of flair. The tone of the production was set early with the taped vaudeville piano music and a set (designer Cat Raven) where everything is twisted and askew. With full theatrical license Gaul has pages from the future printing machine pouring down on characters from above in intermittent bursts.