It worked! The Mamet play Glengarry Glen Ross was set in an era where the fast talking cut-throat world of shoddy real estate sales was a male domain, where crude and sexist language was the norm and where abuse was flung at others to intimidate, dominate and manipulate. In this production it became a place for women as well as men.  As an audience member watching from a 2018 perspective it did not jar. The brave move by Director Bill Milionis to flip the genders of some of the all male caste paid off.
Set in a shabby real estate office we were in no doubt of time and place, with a poster of President Reagan and the flag almost centre stage, surrounded by filing cabinets, desks, old hand held phones and lots of paperwork. The set also flagged the fate of the characters ahead of time with Levene’s name, for example, crossed out on the chart. ABC Always Be Closing, the office slogan, hung on the wall like an odd strict school rule.
A slow start where voice levels seemed unnaturally low for even this tiny theatre setting gave way to a competently executed production. The majority of the characters handled Mamet’s dialogue very well. Blake’s long monologue; a tirade of belittling abuse was delivered by Jena Luhrmann with the cruelty forced required.
Tony Barea nailed the character of the self assured, fast -talking, unlikeable, self proclaimed winner Roma. Livio de Michiel as Moss, although a little too fast talking for me to catch all his dialogue, played the two handed scene with Aaronow (Rebecca Leedham) very well. It was a beautifully handled exchange from both actors.  A good example perhaps of what the Meisner Technique, taught at Pulse, can deliver in performance.
Levene played by Katherine Munro was a demanding part particularly for a female and Katherine, after a slow start, warmed to her role and was very engaging throughout the rest of the play.
Minor criticisms were the squeaky door, which I imagine was left squeaking for some symbolic reason but which only served to annoy this audience member and the lack of lighting and set in the bar/restaurant scene with Roma and Lingk. We needed more to bring this scene to life.
Otherwise, well done all. For several of the actors I was amazed to read this was their theatrical debut.  I had not seen anything by the actors pulse studio for actors before and if this is only an intermediary class I look forward to more.
Liz O’Toole – Theatre Now & On The Town
The Actors Pulse presents
Glengarry Glen Ross by David Mamet
Directed by Billy Milionis
Thur-Sat 7.30pm – Feb 22 to March 3
103 Regent Street Redfern
Tickets $29.50 ($21.50 for Feb 22 preview)
Bookings www.stickytickets.com.au/63068
