OCTOBER, 1987 Vol 11 No 9 ISSN 0314 - 0598 A publication of the Australian Elizabethan Theatre Trust Eddie Bracken as Willie Clarke in THE SUNSHINE BOYS Bracken's back - spreading sunshine THE SUNSHINE BOYS blades (he can't hold with his shaking As well as the comedy we can always by Neil Simon hands). It is the role played by Walter expect from Neil Simon this play also Directed by Eddie Bracken Matthau in the film version of the play. has touches of pathos. It has been writ­ Cast includes: Eddie Bracken, Ray Eddie Bracken knew the two men ten out of love and deep affinity with Barrell, Pat McDonald and John portrayed in the play and claims never the theatrical scene and temperament. The New York Daily News said of the Orscik to have heard even a cross word pass between them. But altercations and play "another hit for Simon in this resh from his success in the lead role conflict make for interest and fun in the shrewdly balanced, splendidly per­ F of SUGAR BABIES which has just play. formed and rather touching slice of completed a national tour for the Trust, Ray Barrett plays Willie's partner Al showbiz life". Lewis, the role played by the-still-alive­ Eddie Bracken will direct and star in BOOKlNG INFORMATION THE SUNSHINE BOYS which comes after-all-these-years, George Bums. Pat McDonald will be returning to the stage Her Majesty's Theatre to Sydney's Her Majesty's Theatre next Tue Nov 24 to Sat Dec 12 month. Eddie Bracken plays Willie after five years as Aunt Fiona in TV's Mon to Sat at 8 p.m. Clarke in Neil Simon's story of two Sons and Daughters to play Miss Sat mat at 2 p.m. vaudeville artists who, although they O'Neill, Willie's crusty nurse with a AETT $25.90 (except Fri/Sat evg) had worked together for 43 years, actu­ heart of gold. Willie's nephew who is G.P. $29.90 ally loath one another. Willie lives by frustrated in all his attempts to motiv­ Pens/Stud $19.90 (except Fri/Sat evg) doing spot commercials for potato ate his uncle is played by Cop Shop star Two AETT tickets per Member chips (he forgets the name ot) and razor John Orscik. 2 Diane Craig taking the roles previously NIDA Seasons played by John Bell and Robyn Nevin. Change for Tod Such a dramatic change of cast should ollowing the Theatre of the Dears ctober is presentation time for entice those who have already seen the Fexciting season of DON QUIXOTE ONIDA and final year students will production back again! the company has returned to work in present Julian Mitchell's ANOTHER schools. It is one of the country's lead­ COUNTRY and DON JUAN COMES ing theatre-in-education teams present­ BACK FROM THE WAR by Odon ing specially commissioned works for Van Horvath and translated by infan ts, primary and secondary Christopher Hampton at the Parade schools. British actress Jean St. Clair, Theatre. Ticket prices for Trust Mem­ one of the most respected actors has bers are $8 each (a $2.00 saving on the been able to continue her work with the G.P. price) for both these company thanks to the co-operation of performances. British Airways. Second year students will present Alan Ayckbourn's BEDROOM FARCE and THE MAN WHO CAME Buzo Premiere TO DINNER by George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart. Although both of these STING RAY by Alex Buzo performances are free, booking is Directed by Aarne Neeme essential. They will be the last perform­ Cast includes: Alan McFadden, David ances in the NIDA Theatre as the Insti­ Wood and Andrew Di Lollo tute prepares to move into its new ne of the highlights of Sydney's premIses. O 1985 theatrical calendar was the season of ESSINGTON LEWIS: I AM BOOKING INFORMATION WORK by John O'Donoghue which BEDROOM FARCE Ruth Cracknell in EMERALD CITY won the Sydney Critics' Circle Award. Wed Oct 14 to Sun Oct 18 This year Essington Productions will THE MAN WHO CAME TO present a new play be Alex Buzo. Called DINNER BOOKING INFORMATION Tue Oct 27 to Sat Oct 31 Sat Nov 28 to Sat Dec 2 STING RAY it is a surreal comedy ANOTHER COUNTRY Mon to Sat at 8 p.m. about a property developer who sets Tue Oct 13 to Thu Oct 22 Sat mat at 2 p.m. out to become the spiritual ruler of the DON JUAN AETT $24.00 (except Fri/Sat evg) world. Alex Buzo is one of Australia's Thu Oct 15 to Sat Oct 24 G.P. $27.00 most prolific writers having written AETT discount $2.00 Pens/Stud $24.00 (except Fri/Sat evg) such plays as MARTELLO TOWERS, Bookings on 663 3815 Two AETT tickets per Member MAKASSAR REEF and MARGINAL FARM. At the Q BOOKING INFORMATION Williamson Returns Stables Theatre HEN THEY SEND ME THREE Wed Oct 28 to Sun Nov 15 WAND FOURPENCE is a play Tue to Sun at 8.15 p.m. EMERALD CITY by David with music by Steve J. Spears which AETT discount $2.00 Williamson was originally presented by Sydney's Bookings on 95745901335216 Directed by Richard Wherrett Griffin Theatre Company. It's set in Settings byLaurence Eastwood 1963 and centres around a seedy Starring Ruth Cracknell, Drew church hall in a bayside suburb where Forsythe, Garry McDonald and Diane Robert O'Brien runs a dancing school British Farce Craig which teaches everything from the SEE HOW THEY RUN by Philip King foxtrot to the twist and features music hose Members who missed out on Directed by Noel Ferrier from Chubby Checker to the Beatles, Designed by James Ridewood T seeing David Williamson's new Johnny O'Keefe, Bob Dylan and Little Cast includes: Grant Dodwell, Steven play EMERALD CITY when it Patti. The production will be directed premiered in Sydney in January this Tandy, Genevieve Lemon, Lorna by Doreen Warburton and opens on Lesley, Peter Whitford, Barry Lovett, year, will be pleased to know that the October 9. Sydney Theatre Company is Maggie Dence and Lee James remounting its production in the Drama Theatre next month. Of the BOOKING INFORMATION t's a while since there's been a pro­ Fri Oct 9 to Sun Nov 1 original principal actors Ruth Wed to Sat at 8 p.m. I fessional production of a good old Cracknell will remain with the pro­ Wed at 11 a.m. English farce. Memories are still rosy of duction. She will be joined by Drew Sat 3 p.m. Sun 4.30 p.m. the brilliant farce RUN FOR YOUR Forsythe playing the Max Cullen role AETT discount $1.00 WIFE by London's Theatre of Comedy with Garry McDonald and his wife which the Trust brought to Australia a 3 couple of years ago. So it's good news and dramatist he has done more than applies and members may purchase as that Northside Theatre Company is any other South African to tell the many AETT tickets as they wish. mounting Philip King's SEE HOW world of the particular brand of man's THEY RUN for their Christmas enter­ inhumanity to man that is known as BOOKING INFORMATION tainment directed by Noel Ferrier. SEE apartheid. Eight of his plays have been Phillip St. Theatre HOW THEY RUN is set in an English presented in Sydney and Anthony Fri Oct 23 to Sat Nov 21 Vicarage towards the end of World War Wheeler has starred in four of them Fri & Sat at 8 p.m. AETT $19.90 $17.90 (Oct 24) II. Lance-Corporal Clive Winton with his late wife Olive Bodill. Athol G.P. $22.90 invites Penelope Troop wife of the rev­ Fugard himself starred in the 1986 Pens/Stud $14.90. erend Lionel Troop out for dinner in a Broadway season of BLOOD KNOT Two AETT tickets per Member (except neighbouring town but since it is out of with Zakes Mokae. Newsweek Sat Oct 24) bounds to the forces he dresses up in described it as "one of the wisest, the clerical gear of Penelope's husband. sweetest, even noblest plays about the Matters become highly complicated balked brotherhood of racism ever Viennese Operetta when Penelope's uncle, The Bishop of written". Lax mistakes Clive for Lionel and when BLOOD KNOT which will be pre­ he Australian Opera's production Lionel arrives there are three clergy­ sented at the Seymour Centre this T of COUNTESS MARITZA hasjust men chasing each other around the month is a parable of two brothers - opened at the Sydney Opera House and house!. one light-skinned, one dark - sharing continues until October 31 when The a hovel in a coloured township on the BOOKING INFORMATION outskirts of Port Elizabeth. Gillian Marian St. Theatre Owen, who directed two previous Sun Nov 15 to Sun Nov 29 seasons of Fugard plays - ST A TE­ Tue to Sat at 8.15 p.m. MENTS and A LESSON FROM Sat and Sun at 5.00 p.m. ALOES - will direct BLOOD Wed mat at II a.m. KNOT. AETT $16.90 (Mon to Fri & mats except Nov 18) BOOKING INFORMATION G.P. $19.90 Downstairs, Seymour Centre Pens/Stud $10.90 (except Fri/Sat evg) Wed Oct 14 to Sat Nov 7 Two AETT tickets per Member Tue to Sat at 8 p.m. Sat mat at 5 p.m. AETT $16.00 G.P. $20.00 Fugard Play Pens/Stud $12.00 (except Sat evg) Two AETT tickets per Member BLOOD KNOT by Athol Fugard Anthony Warlow and Anne-Maree McDonald in Directed by Gillian Owen COUNTESS MARITZA Cast includes Anthony Wheeler and Australian Opera's winter season Garth Meade Phillip St.