Two Weeks With The Queen

This Mary Morris play, based on the novel by Morris Gleitzman, was a great choice for a season that spanned WA school holidays, although I don't think that the message has really got out to the community. The Sunday matinee I attended was sadly underpatronised and generation z were in extremely short supply.

Based on a novel aimed at older children and teens, the show covers some heavy issues, including terminal cancer and AIDS, it is really accessable and surprisingly funny.

Central character Colin was played by Steve Anderson. This eighteen year old actor played a convincing, gangly twelve or thirteen and handled being on the stage almost 100% of the time. A really impressive performance, this is a young performer with huge potential.

Eleven year old Seamus Harrison played the dual roles of Luke and Alastair - very different roles, both brilliantly played. In his short effervescent appearance as Luke, who we learn has become terminally ill, he won the audience over, so that we were very invested in Luke's fate. Alistair in contrast was a mollycoddled, sickly English boy, who was also extremely likeable. His acting range showed why Seamus has been cast in a leading role in the Perth season of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.

The rest of the cast were playing multiple roles. Jason Pearce, though noticeably youthful, played Colin's father and uncle, but shone as dying young Welshman, Griff. Caroline Geraghty made her Australian debut and will be a welcome addition to the Perth theatre community.

Melissa Skeffington, doing double duty as an ASM, made her stage debut. I particularly enjoyed her portrayal of the long-suffering airline passenger in a beautifully understated characterisation. Shannon Denkha also was performing for the very first time and created seven distinct and interesting personas. Jacob Turner, with less than a year's acting experience, played several roles, most noteably the lovely Ted, partner of the ill Griff and surrogate father-figure to the confused Colin.

The story was well told and the relationships well established, but momentum was constantly undermined by twenty six scene changes, many of which were unnecessary and all of which were too slow. It was a shame as this is quite an emotional little piece and its impact would have been much greater if we had been allowed a less interupted investment into these character's lives. This also means the cast have to constantly reset the pace, which is also challenging. At times the blocking was unhelpful to the actors and audience.

The show has a great story, and Two Weeks With the Queen is well performed, even without considering the inexperience of many of the cast. It would be a great choice for families of upper primary age and above and deserves a bigger audience.

Kimberley Shaw

PREVIEW AND BUY THE SCRIPT HERE.