A View From the Park

A View From the Park, a co-production between Maverick Theatre Productions and Old Mill Theatre, is a collection of six short plays, written and directed by local author Noel O’Neill. All two handers, set on a park bench, there is a lovely variety to the stories, and they are being well received by Covid capacity audiences.

The set consists of a rather attractive park bench, with hints of the park and the time of day being provided by subtle lighting design by John Woolrych.

The first play, Daddy’s Little Girl, is a tale of love and tension between a father and his adult daughter, as she prepares for her upcoming wedding. Set in New York, perhaps not surprising as it was playwright Noel O’Neill’s home for many years, authentic accents add to the rapid-fire banter in this piece. This play was performed earlier this year, with the same cast, at Melville’s Summer Shorts, and if anything has become even more slick and stronger. Good teamwork and believable family relationships from performers Malcolm Douglas and Indiana Powell.

One For Sorrow is a bitter-sweet tale of two old friends, beautifully performed by Perth’s accent guru James Hagan and a charming Gino Cataldo. We realise that Ira (Hagan) has become gravely ill and that his friend realises that he has neglected the relationship. Gentle and moving this was well crafted by the writer/director and performers.

A change of pace, and country, for the final play of the first act, as Vivienne Marshall and Rex Gray perform Sign Right There, about a long term couple who are considering moving in together. Good use of physical theatre, with a lighter feel.

After interval, writer/director O’Neill teams with the delightful Rosalyn Anderson in Rules of Engagement. Perhaps the strongest in the sextet (and they are all very good), this is a very funny piece, with a darker undertone, as a middle-aged man surprises his girlfriend with a proposal of marriage. Gorgeously drawn characters and nuanced performances bring this clever play to life.

Walking Matilda is a very clever premise, with a lovely twist in the tale, as a man walking his dog (Malcolm Douglas) meets his old friend (Aiden Murphy). There is much more to the relationship than at first it may seem, well revealed by layered performances.

The final play, the cleverly named Passion Play, features an arrogant playboy of a director (a gloriously theatrical James Hagan) who has stormed out of his own audition for an Easter Liturgical play. It is up to his long suffering agent (an earnest Rex Hunt) to convince him to return. A great way to close the performance.

Lots of variety in this lovely assorted chocolate box of a show - and audiences are certain to find several shows with which they really connect. The slight relaxation of Covid restrictions has made a significant increase to Old Mill’s capacity, so this previously sold-out production may now have seats available. A very enjoyable afternoon or evening of theatre.

Kimberley Shaw