OCfOBER/NOVEMBER 1987. Vol 12 No 5 ISSN 0314 - 3058 A publication of the Australian Elizabethian Theatre Trust Max Gillies stars in Trust-Williamson production THE DEPARTMENT by David Williamson Direued b.l' Rodney Fisher Designed bl' Shalln GlirlOn LiKhting b.l' Nick Schlieper Cast: Ma.\ Gillies, Tracy Mann, Helmllt Bakaitis, Ben Gabriel, Ron Graham, JertMorrell, Mallhew O'Sul/ivan, Kris Ralph, John Sheerin, Palll Williams " VJ 'illiamson 's best pIa)' is an assured, rounded, acid!.\, lInderslanding dissec­ lion at bureaucracy. " Garrie Hutchinson. The Australian "The Jimnier it Kets - and it is very Jimny - the more urgently Williamson asks: hOH' can anylhing be made to work, Fom a relationship belween lM'O people right through to an educational institution lI 'hen human beings are the headstrong, contrar.\', passionate and sel(seeking crealllres lhat the,l' are?" Ron Blair, Sydney Morning Herald It Often hailed as Williamson's best A. play, perhaps because it mirrors his ~l early life as a teacher and, there­ fore, a lot of its content comes from his own experience, THE DEPARTMENT is an ascerbic dissection of the world of the committee meeting, Robby, the head of the department, desperately .\la.r Gillies tries to conduct a staff meeting - he to the 1960s - confrontation. No won­ every part in the opera, and is totally contrives, he cajoles, he manipulates, der it was such a success in bureaucratic unable to delegate. In THE DEPART­ sometimes he flounders, but always Canberra; no wonder it continues to be MENT he once again takes on a "power" manages to remain ahead (just) of the so apt today, exposing the bumb1edom part. Whether it's Hawke, Dafydd or rest! There are marvellous cameos in of public service in Australia. As ever, Robby, as Gillies says, HI just don't get the rest of the staff: Gordon, the plai n­ David Williamson is the chronicler of offered many parts as wimps:' talking technician, tolerated because of his own generation. his practical abilities; Bobby, the per­ petual procrastinator, never able to fin­ Max Gillies in the lead role of Bobby BOOKING INFORMATION ish his ,work because he had to have a heads a strong cast, which also includes The Athenaeum Opens 1st week Jan. yarn with someone he ran into in the Tracy Mann, who has just completed a Mon to Sat 8 pm corridor; AI , perpetually in a turmoil season at the Wharf Theatre in WHEN Wed and Sat mats at 2 pm because he hasn't had time to get any­ I WAS A GIRL. Max Gillies needs little AETT $23.90 (Mon-Thurs & mats) thing done; and Peter Ph.D., whose introduction. He became a national $24.90 (Fri/Sat) attitude to student radicals'harks back treasure with his remarkable imperson­ Trust Nights Mon. Jan 11 & ations in TV's THE MAX GILLIES Tues Jan 12 $19.90 GIFT OFFER! SHOW, and has been playing in G.P. $26.90 (Mon-Thurs & mats) Alan Aychbourn's A CHORUS OF $27.90 (FriiS at) Give a Gift Membership be­ DISAPPROVAL for the Melbourne Pens/Stud $19.90 fore December 24 and receive Theatre Company. He performed the role (Mon-Thurs & mats) free a box of Cabaret Choco­ of Dafydd, the director of an amateur Two AETT tickets per member except lates. See page 11 for details. operatic society, a character well-suited to Trust Nights Gillies' personality since he loves to play It E:l An Australian Elizabethan Theatre Trust presentation ______________________________ 2 Jacki Weaver and Peter Carroll will return Life, Death and Melbourne Versus as Kate and Colin, the couple who are be­ Sydney set by demons in their search for a Water? fabulous Emerald City in the Land of Oz. MY SON THE LAWYER IS EMERALD CITY DROWNING By David Williamson BOOKING INFORMATION Written by Doug Macleod Directed by John Sumner Commences Nov 11 to Dec 5 Directed by Peter Oyston Designed by Richard Roberts Mon to Fri at 8 p.m., Designed by John Beckett Starring Jacki Weaver, Peter Carroll, Gary Sat at 5 p.m. and 8.15 p.m. The Studio, Victorian Arts Centre. Day, Maggie Kirkpatrick, AETT $18.80 Genevieve Mooy and Gerard Maguire. GP $21.80 Pens $8.90 Playhouse, Vic. Arts Centre Stud $7.80 laybox presents the Australian Two AETT tickets per member P Premiere of MY SON THE LAWYER he MTC presents a special four week IS DROWNING as the last laugh (final T return season of David Williamson's production) in their season of Captivating most recent addition to his string of smash Comedy. It concerns Alan and Miriam hits - EMERALD CITY. In both Sydney Anthill Plays Host Isaacs, a middle-aged suburban Jewish and Melbourne return seasons are about to A STRETCH OF THE IMAGINATION couple who are disturbed when a highly commence, which is quite ironic as the sub­ By Jack Hibberd unusual family move in next door. Simul­ ject of the play, for those who don't al­ Directed by Richard Murphett taneously the beloved only son of the Isa­ ready know, or haven't already seen it, is in Designed by John Butler acs arrives home from Law school. Danny fact the rivalry and supposedly contrasting Starring Ian Campbell is interested in the new neighbours but values and attitudes between these two Miriam is not keen on Danny fraternising 'ever sparring monsters'. A1lthill Theatre with them, even if they can exist quite hap­ pily with their human neighbours. n an exclusive Melbourne session, I Anthill hosts The Mill Theatre in In the midst of this difficult situation, God presenting Jack Hibberd's classic of arrives in a variety of confusing guises to Australian Theatre, A STRETCH OF announce the coming of a second flood. THE IMAGINATION. Seen throughout Humans will have to compete with a new Australia and abroad, (a production race for inheritance of the planet. directed by Carillo Gantner is currently being performed in China) Monk O'Neill Alan Isaacs can't place boat - building at is one in a long tradition of Australian yarn the top of his list of 'things I do best', but spinners and entertainers, a somewhat learning will be half the fun! eccentric recluse who lives in splendid isolation in a corrugated iron hut and faces Doug Macleod is a prolific young writer the realities and crudities of life with with many theatre, radio and television courage and a certain amount of scripts for both adults and children to his tastelessness, and certainly with humour credit. As well Doug is responsible for five and pathos. I The usual formality of the Anthill Theatre will be transformed into an informal cabaret environment with tables and chairs L to R - Jacki Weaver, Peter Carroll, Genevieve Mooy and Gary Day. where patrons may eat and drink. Light refreshments will be provided. Monk As soon as the MTC announced in their O'Neill can only be seen for two weeks at last season their plans to present EMER­ Anthill so book early for this great ALD CITY, the rush was on. And by the Australian classic. end of the season nearly 42,000 people had seen the production which shattered the records set by the MTC's previous BOOKING INFORMATION box-office winners, THE PERFEC­ Opens Oct 14 TIONIST and SONS OF CAIN, also by Wed-Sun at 8 pm Williamson. So those of you who missed AETT $13.50 out last time, it would perhaps be a good G.P. $16.00 idea to book as soon as possible as it is Bookings through Mill Theatre probably unlikely that it will return to the (052 22 2318) and Anthill 699 3253 Melbourne stage for some time. 3 published children's titles and the editing U.S. The play was first presented by the of the International Youth Year anthology, Belvoir St. Theatre in Sydney as part of the Great Performers KISSING THE FROG. His latest poetry 1986 Sydney Festival Festival and is collection, SISTER MADGE'S BOOK OF returning to Belvoir St. before coming to his is the sixth Great Performers series NUNS, is currently on the short list for the Melbourne in early November. which brings together internationally 1987 Australian Children's Book of the T acclaimed concert artists and ensembles Year awards. The role of Alice B. Toklas will be played from Australia and overseas. Performed by Pamela Rabe who would be well known will be some of the greatest works of the to Melbourne audiences for her perfor­ most revered composers in Melbourne's mances in many MTC productions BOOKING INFORMATION excellent venue, the Melbourne Concert including HEARTBREAK HOUSE, A From Mon Nov 9 to Sat Nov 28 Hall. Mon to Fri at 8 p.m. SERVANT OF TWO MASTERS and Sat at 5 and 8.15 p.m. most recently in the Playbox production of AETT $11.00 CHOCHOSAN. G.P. $16.50 The Australian String Quartet with Conc $10.00 Explaining why GERTRUDE STEIN Stephen McIntyre begins the series with an Two AETT tickets per member AND A COMPANION has had such evening of superb chamber music. Formed world wide success, Miriam Margoyles in April 1985, the Australian String Quar­ once said "First, It's a love story between tet made its striking debut at the Adelaide women; second it involves some of the Festival in 1986 and has appeared with Remarkable Women giants of 20th Century art and Literature; great success in all major cities. Stephen and thirdly it's very funny, lot's of laughs. McIntyre who has been described as a So you see, it's got something for pianist of outstanding brilliance, studied everyone!" in Paris and has toured extensively in Eu­ GERTRUDE STEIN AND A rope, India and Japan, makes a welcome COMPANION return to the Concert Hall stage.