Play On
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https://www.huntershilltheatre.com.au/
07/06/2019 until 16/06/2019
Review written by Cassie Cheeseman
Photography by Dan Ferris
A play within a play, Play On! is now showing at Hunters Hill Theatre until 16th June. This unique modern production comes to life at the hands of director Margaret Olive. Offering a dramatic dip into the world of theatre creation, Play On! just might satisfy the what if’s and curiosities the audience has about the theatre process.
Designed as a drama comedy, we follow our main cast try their sincere best to produce and perform Murder Most Foul, a new play by amateur writer Phyllis (played by Anthea Brown). But with re-write after rewrite including new characters being added just days before opening, the cast and its director Gerry (played by Susan Mozell) face an uphill battle.
The cast of 10 each performed their parts with a level of passion and vigour well beyond the standards normally seen from amateur community theatres. Special mentions are deserved to Lois Marsh who manages to play the selfish Polly in a way that is particularly endearing. Likewise, Anthea Brown is scene stealing in her role as aggravating and ever so proper writer Phyllis.
Hunters Hill Theatre consistently excels in producing a fantastic and realistic set and Play On! is no exception including even minute details like a flickering fireplace. Costumes offered a unique challenge requiring two very different styles and Anthea Brown manages to perfectly execute clothing choices for each character to highlight their individual personalities. However, the choice to use sound in Act 3 to fast track certain scenes which the audience was already familiar with was questionable. It sounded like a scratched record and came across somewhat cheap. Perhaps it would have been better to utilise fade-in and fade-out lighting, even with a ticking clock sound, to convey the passage of time.
Play On! is a light-hearted production which provides great entertainment. With laughs abound for the whole of the production, it is bound to leave any audience smiling as they leave the theatre.