“Kim Hardwick’s direction of this tale of age and the right to dignity is energetic and pushes the play through some of its weaker moments, handling with care the journey towards an exploration of age and death.” – Kate Stratford
3/5 musketeers
Some friendships, formed in youth and defying the vicissitudes of life, last a lifetime. Others fade as we grow and go our separate ways. For one group, it is definitely a pact embracing the former. Jackie (Di Smith), Lizzie (Helen O’Çonnor), Frances (Katrina Foster) and Susan (Di Adams) are now society’s invisible women but their commitment and care for each other has remained steadfast through the decades. When Jackie’s health fails, the friendship is put to the ultimate test of love and generosity, and in the group’s motto of the Dumas / Shakespearean epithet of “one for all and all for one”.
Suzanne’s Hawley’s Wild Thing is a rare bird (unlike the sea eagle which inspires Jackie) in that it offers four strong roles to women of a certain age. The formation of the friendship and its consolidation over the years is told through a series of flashback scenes where men (played variously by Phillip D’Ambrosio and Lewis Fitz-Gerald) come in a definite fourth. What binds these women is a series of shared experiences although at times it seemed some of those experiences lacked emotional depth.
Tom Bannerman’s set is one of his usual masterpieces; making the best use of the space whilst playing out the metaphor of the play. Jackie’s home may be, like her diseased mind, full of detritus of the past but the space also becomes a white canvas against which Martin Kinnane’s lighting is allowed to effectively play out mood.
Kim Hardwick’s direction of this tale of age and the right to dignity is energetic and pushes the play through some of its weaker moments, handling with care the journey towards an exploration of age and death.
When all else fails, for many women there is always friendship. The obligations of this friendship provide just one of the ideas explored in Hawley’s new play.
3/5 musketeers
Kate Stratford, Theatre Now
Phot Credit: Lisa Tomasetti
2 – 20 March 2021
Venue: Flight Path Theatre
Performances
Tue – Sat: 7:30pm
Matinees: Sat & Sun 4pm
Previews [2nd &3rd]: 7:30pm
Ticket Prices
General Admission $35
A comedy, a tragedy – a tale of sea eagles, of pole dancing and childhood dreams, of rock and roll, of love and friendships which have stood the test of time.
Until now.
By: Suzanne Hawley
Director: Kim Hardwick
Let the games begin
Jackie, Elizabeth, Frances and Susan met at high school. They became besties, hit London in the sixties and then carved out very different lives for themselves. Now, they don’t see each other as often, but always make it a rule to meet up once a year for a girl’s night out.
But this year is different.
The most radical member of their group is in crisis. To offer their support, the women take her back to her country home for a weekend – to relax and let their hair down. What could possibly go wrong?
The ensuing nightmare will test their friendship, their morals and their courage as never before. And a final twist in the tale will change their lives forever.
Set Tom Bannerman
Lighting Martin Kinnane
Costume Robert Bayliss
Sound Patrick Howard
Stage Management Mel Day , Emma Dalton
With
Di Adams, Philip D’Ambrosio, Lewis Fitz-Gerald, Katrina Foster, Helen O’Connor, Di Smith
