Manly Mates

Canberra Dramatic’s staging of Frank Hatherley’s Manly Mates harks back to the breezy corruption that used to be currency in New South Wales. In this farce based on real powerbrokers from the 1970s, duffle bags of money appear, alcohol is downed like water and women were expected to flash their assets on demand.

Community theatre group Canberra Dramatics does a great job of the play, although they are not helped by acoustics, especially in the first third. Luckily the volume and pacing increased as the play progressed, and the so second act built to an energetically funny climax.

The cast drew much mirth from the brazenness of the corruption, but danger was a constant undercurrent, shown by exaggerated paranoia, nervousness and loud outbursts. Rebecca Nicholson as Patricia, an innocent young woman invited into the exclusive Octopus Club as a fill-in barmaid, recalls Juanita Nielson, the young journalist organising protests against demolitions in Kings Cross. Likewise the appearance of a bag man with track marks and a Chicago thug with a gun underline just how risky a game this is.

Strong performances were given by Michael Miller as a smooth-talking Sir Bob, who could solve any problem by liberally applying wads of cash, and Mark Burnett, who was intimidating and bombastic as police commissioner Norm Allen. Angus Jolly made an amusingly drippy young policeman and Donny Wilkinson’s Mafioso poker machine merchant Joe produced gleefully crazed leers, notably when he did something unspeakable to a cat. But its the women who carry the show—Tracy Thomas as the ironically named Virginia, the earnest young Liberal candidate who ends up drunk and minus a dress, Rebecca Nicholson as barmaid Patricia, Judith Peterson as drug-addled SP bookie Peg and especially Margie Sainsbury, who imbues the fabulously eccentric Mollie Askin with a good slosh of sherry and just a touch of Susan Renouf.

Allan Saffron’s recent claim that his father Abe was paying  Bob Askin and Norm Allen between five and ten grand per week in bribes can’t have come as a surprise to author Frank Hatherley. In 2004 when Manly Mates was first staged, there were howls of protest from Mrs Askin’s friends over her depiction as a sherry-drinking ditz, but deathly silence in defence of Sir Bob or Norman the Foreman. The play is a reminder that however appalling our political state leaders might be today, they once were one hell of a lot worse.

Cathy Bannister

Photo: Virginia (Tracy Thomas) discusses political strategy and betting tips with Sir Bob Askin (Michael Miller) in Manly Mates. Photo: Ben Kopilow, Fusion Photography.