Stage Kiss

Established in 1967, originally located in an unimposing hall in Seacombe Gardens, Galleon Theatre Group is a proud and well established community theatre group. Now housed in Marion Council’s new Domain Theatre, it is a well-regarded and recognized Adelaide theatre group. Having multiple theatre awards and nominations, it holds an important place as a group that has consistently welcomed people who love theatre, valuing their enthusiasm, and often providing mentoring and opportunities for less experienced actors and production teams alike.

Their current production, Stage Kiss, written by award winning playwright Sarah Ruhl is a quirky piece of writing that challenges the actors and whole production team to develop and deliver multiple theatre styles using a ‘play within a play’ approach to deliver both a tongue in cheek melodrama and a sometimes poignant comedy as the wrapping for a message about real love conquering lust.

Well respected Adelaide Director Sally Putnam, true to Galleon’s inclusive use of experienced and less experienced actors, has gathered a cast that includes award winning actor Andrew Clark as He, and multi-faceted actor Anita Zamberlan Canala, as She. Canala relishes this role and is a standout, not just as the nearly ‘washed up’ former love of He, but as the witty and zany about to die, but saved by lust 1920s female siren in the play that this raggle taggle company is mounting.  Canala is supremely confident with comedic dialogue, moves and nuances, and her consistency with accent is pleasing, thereby ensuring that the audience can easily follow what could be a convoluted storyline.  Her routine during a rehearsal that proves that a kiss is not just a kiss is well choreographed, and entirely believable, and she is at her very best with Clark in their melodramatic scenes that include wonderful lines describing having a relationship with an actor when she says, ‘Never marry a man who looks in the mirror more than you do.’ Clark and Canala work well together and had the audience chortling loudly during a cleverly presented duet using crutches so inventively as to make Spiderman envious.

Putnam uses her cast and crew well to move props, costumes, set and furnishings. It allows the audience to see how a play is developed and created whilst ensuring that the action is not interrupted. Lighting by James Allenby is used effectively to highlight some important moments including He and She in separate spotlights doing parallel dialogue apart, but together. The set, based on a design by Brittany Daw, appears simple, but by the end of the first act we see a stylish Deco style set that showcases the melodrama well and the second act scene cleverly has multiple uses. Wardrobe by Trisha Graham has used simple pieces of clothing to effectively and quickly delineate the multiple characters that most of the cast portray, the ‘glamour’ pieces for Canala being particularly eye catching.

COVID has had a serious impact on community and professional theatre and Galleon have taken three attempts to present Stage Kiss to their audiences. Multiple interruptions have likely affected the time needed to work with supporting cast members’ onstage position, accent and projection. Adrian Heness as the Director has a very individual approach and a strong Australian accent whilst Anthony Vawser moved between four roles, my favourite being the Doctor in the melodrama. Scott Battersby’s stage presence developed in the second act when, as the devoted, cuckolded husband, he attempted to woo his straying wife back. Samara Gambling and Grainne O’Connell have more than one character role and also work hard on stage, almost invisibly moving set pieces and props to keep the story moving smoothly. Both actors would benefit from work on accents and projection, but both were enthusiastic and disciplined, O’Connell delivering her first non-school related role.

An evening with Galleon is like a warm hug. Community sponsorship means complimentary sherry is offered on arrival and bargain basement price raffle tickets ensure that excited audience members have coveted prizes, also provided by loyal sponsors. The play is warm and cheerful, allowing the audience a cabaret or traditional seating outing, at a time when we all need to laugh and smile.

Jude Hines