All Sorts 4

This is the fourth of Henry Lawson Theatre’s program of short plays by local writers – and what a nice little collection of plays they have found this year. Seven unusual stories, a varied range of characters, all presented in a well-directed, smoothly produced program that is interesting and entertaining. Well done to the seven directors and twenty one actors – and the stage crew led by Mike Rochfort who work quickly and efficiently to ensure minimise the time between each item.

In the Temporal Anomalies Division, written and directed by Alexander Smith, three thieves dividing their loot are confronted by two Time Warriors – who emerge from a refrigerator – threatening to punish them by sending them through space to another time or identity. Nicole Smith and Alexander Smith are smilingly menacing as they threaten and intimidate Matthew Bourke, Stephen McCabe and Felicity Jean. This is a fast-moving piece demanding quick, clear characterisation and some comedic timing from Smith and Smith.

Angela Pezzano’s I.V. League is based on the idea of the “Inner Voices” that plague women about their faults and failures. This is a sensitively conceived piece in which Pezzano tempers self-deprecation with a call for personal strength and belief – and a sense of humour. Jacqueline Felangue, Tayah Gulyas, Evelyn Ivory and Pezzano herself star in this poignant vignette directed perceptively by Felicity Jean.

The next story, The Arrival by Gary Stowe takes us to a heavenly waiting room where bloodied reckless driver Greg played by Christopher Pali is confronted by an “enigmatic” St Peter cleverly interpreted by Lesh Satchithanda who takes Greg through a clipboard list of afterlife choices. Pali plays Greg completely straight while Satchithanda weaves and teases, his long cloak flowing and halo shimmering. Nicole Smith directs this with smart awareness of Satchithanda’s comedic timing and physicality.

The Duel by Sally Davies is directed by Ian Fletcher who ensures the clever rise of comic tension in the piece leads effectively to the climax … and anticlimax. Here Mitchell Rist and Michael Thompson are two pompous, competitive lawyers whose egos lead them to a “war of words, wit, wantonness … and umbrellas! This is a fun piece where the actors carefully build their argument to bit of a surprise.

Act 2 begins with No Pudding on Tuesday by Sherene B. Mitchell. Set in a home for retired heroes, the folk of the Hero Squad are ready for their outing when they are confronted by Alma Geddon, an enemy from the past. Heather McGreal directs some of HLT’s veteran performers in this funny piece where each character has a comic eccentricity, which the actors relish portraying. Ken Fletcher, Aurel Vasilescu, Max Newbold, Christine Snell, Cheryl Mason, Felicity Jean and Ria Koppen star in this very quirky piece.

In P.R. Nightmare five villainesses from classical literature hire a PR person to enhance their public images. Jacqueline Felange, Tayah Gulyas, Evelyn Ivory, Angela Pezzano and Beverley Mooney make Sonja Petrov’s job a PR nightmare. Written and directed by Mitchell Rist, this twist on makeovers gives the five actor villainesses the opportunity to be wickedly uncooperative and obstructive, and they enjoy every evil minute!

The final item, directed by Rosie Crossing is Three’s a Crowd by Gary Stowe. Here a man, played by Lesh Satchithanda is waiting for his dinner date, played by Nicole Smith, to arrive when he is joined by a stranger, played by Alexander Smith, who happens to be his date’s husband. To quote the program notes “things turn nasty, even potentially lethal, but all is not as it seems” and a very cunning twist is carefully hidden until the very end.

Short plays seldom have the appeal that these writers have managed to achieve. They each have easy to establish, interesting characters and a clear, coherent plots. The directors and their casts have brought them to life on a bare set with minimal props, producing a program that is entertaining, diverse and inexpensive – and hopefully adds some revenue towards the company’s bid to raise funds for new lighting equipment.

Carol Wimmer