Australian Stage Classic at Old Mill
A CLASSIC Australian play from the 1950s highlighting parallels with today’s fly-in, fly-out workers takes to the Old Mill Theatre (WA) stage in June.
Written by Ray Lawler and directed by Trevor Dhu, Summer of the Seventeenth Doll is considered by literary scholars to be the most significant in Australian theatre history because it provided a turning point where distinctly Australian life and characters were openly and authentically portrayed.
Two itinerant cane cutters, Barney and Roo, have spent the past 16 summers off with two ladies in Melbourne.
Every year, Roo has brought a tinsel doll to his girl Olive, as a gift to symbolise their relationship – but this 17th summer is different somehow.
All four lovers come to face certain unpleasant truths about themselves in what is described as an unusual, compelling love story, hailed by critics in New York for its vigour and integrity.
“The play is similar to our fly-in, fly-out workers and the women they meet when they return, trying to continue a relationship over an extended period of time,” Dhu said.
“In Summer of the Seventeenth Doll, the relationships are stretched by time and the untimely weakness of growing older and making a commitment too late between a man and a woman.
“On the surrounds of all this are friendships and new dominations of youth and regret.
“The ending is not what the lovers intend and the comforts of friendships and homeliness are destroyed – lovers part, and so do friends, and all lose.”
Involved in the performing arts for as long as he can remember, Dhu has worked with Patch and Playhouse Theatres, Perth City Ballet and did extensive professional work with the Australian Dance Theatre in the eastern states.
More recently, he has directed, choreographed and acted in various productions at the Mandurah Performing Arts Centre – most notably West Side Story and Jesus Christ Superstar – and also performed and directed at Harbour, Roleystone, Old Mill and Melville Theatres.
One of Dhu’s friends inspired him to direct Summer of the Seventeenth Doll, along with the raw realities of the characters he found after reading the play.
“It’s a classic but events like this from the past are still real today,” he said. “There are FIFO widows and plenty of stories of people who had it all and blew it. We always do the right thing but it’s too late.”
Summer of the Seventeenth Doll plays at 8pm June 5, 6, 11, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19 and 20 with a 2pm matinee June 14. Tickets are $25, $20 concession – book at http://oldmilltheatre.com.au/ticketsor on 9367 8719.
Summer of the Seventeenth Doll is the third show in a year of all-Australian plays at the Old Mill Theatre to commemorate the centenary of the Gallipoli landing in 2015.
The heritage-listed Old Mill Theatre is on the corner of Mends Street and Mill Point Road, South Perth (opposite the Windsor Hotel and Australia Post).
Images: Barney (Jarrod Buttery) and Roo (Phil Barnett, right) come to blows as Pearl (Jennifer McGrath) looks on; Anna Head as Olive; and the cast of Summer of the Seventeenth Doll, clockwise from bottom: Phil Barnett, Anna Head, Jarrod Buttery, Jennifer McGrath, Patrick Whitelaw, Jesse McGinn and Shirley Toohey. Pictures: www.liquidpixol.com
More Reading
Subscribe to our E-Newsletter, buy our latest print edition or find a Performing Arts book at Book Nook.
