The Graduate

The Graduate is a fun, well-paced offering by Mount Players.  As expected, it shines a bright light on the social mores of the 1960s.  And yes, the auditorium was filled with grey haired patrons, many of whom are doubtless old enough to remember the hubbub caused by the release of the film.  In fact it takes us well and truly back into the era. This is partly due to a great selection of songs, placed throughout, particularly for set changes between scenes.  It’s always a treat to be transported back by numbers such as ‘Downtown’, What a Day for a Daydream,’ ‘The Look of Love,’ ‘Knights in White Satin’, ‘The Look of Love’ and ‘What a Day for a Daydream’.  And for a little bit of irony, ‘I’m So Young and You’re So Old’.  These songs are all great choices by Director Robert Wallace.  The film soundtrack was predominantly of Simon and Garfunkel songs and most particularly the brooding ‘The Sounds of Silence’.

The play of The Graduate, written by Terry Johnson and first produced in 2000, was based on the 1967 film, from the novel by Charles Webb, directed by Mike Nichols, staring Dustan Hoffman, Anne Bancroft and Katherine Ross.

It is the story of a young man, a college graduate of 21, who is seduced by the wife of a family friend/business associate.  He, Benjamin Braddock (Ben Smalley), is willingly ‘lead astray’ and spends seedy afternoons in hotel rooms exploring pleasures of the flesh in the ‘heady hey days’ of the sexual revolution.

Smalley personifies a naïve and not particularly worldly young man, who quite possibly seems initially to be suffering from depression.  Smalley plays a Benjamin who seems to fairly passively glide through his coming of age experience. And it would almost seem that the 1960s Cougar (a term that wasn’t coined in that era) saves him from a world of isolation, indecision and introspection.  Jenny Heriot who plays Mrs. Robinson does it with poise and style.  Heriot’s Mrs. Robinson is a knowing yet flippant hedonist and self confessed alcoholic.

Justine Louise Press livens up all on stage with her character of Mrs. Braddock, Benjamin’s mother, who is perfectly pitched for our entertainment.

Benjamin’s Dad, Mr. Braddock, is played by Chris Davis, who has worked with Mt Players several times.  He does a most convincing job in playing the concerned yet somewhat removed and domineering father.

The loud and brash cuckold Mr. Robinson is played with gusto by Craig Lenaine-Smith, whose boisterous outbursts are completely understandable and played us such.

Elaine, the Robinson’s daughter, is played beautifully by the delightful young actor Vishka Davina Haydock.  Marie Darmos brings appropriate variety to her three characters of Psychiatrist, nightclub dancer and hotel clerk and Maxwell Pickin completes the ensemble with a fine hotel clerk.

Christopher Finch and John Taranto play sleazy blokes in a bar, complete with flashing Budweiser sign, and a similarly sleazy barman is played by Leo Vandervalk.  This scene very acutely portrays the sexual mores of the era and gives us a convincing glimpse or reminder, as the case may be, of a bar as a pick up joint. And all aspects of the set this highly productive team of longstanding Mount Players members have built, serve the action especially well.

Overall this entertaining ‘museum piece’ offers an engaging night out.  It shies away from indulging in erotic and salacious interactions between the characters but rather portrays the sexual encounters as matter of fact.  Which is probably a very sensible directorial choice.

Ultimately Benjamin falls in love …….. and it’s kind of creepy and maybe the crux of the story.  But hey I’m going to avoid being a spoiler for those who don’t know or remember the story - that definitely has a dark side.

Another fine production from Mount Players. Congratulations to all.   The Graduate has had very heavy bookings, with just a few more shows you could be lucky and get a seat.

Make sure you get there nice and early for that sherry!

Suzanne Sandow

Credits

Directed by Robert Wallace

Produced by Chris Finch

Cast:

Ben Smalley – Benjamin

Jenny Heriot – Mrs. Robinson

Craig Lenaine-Smith – Mr. Robinson

Vishka Davina Haydock – Elaine

Chris Davis – Mr. Braddock (Dad)

Justine Louise Press – Mrs. Braddock (Mum)

Marie Darmos – Psychiartrist, Nightclub Dancer and Hotel Clerk

Maxwell Pickin – Hotel Clerk

Leo Vandervalk – Barman

John Taranto – Man in a Nightclub

Chris Finch – Man in a Nightclub and Priest