| Ruben Guthrie | Company B |
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**Nominated for the Play Award in the NSW Premier’s Literary Awards 2009**
Company B presents
Ruben Guthrie
by Brendan Cowell
Directed by Wayne Blair
Opens Wednesday 27 May 2009
Belvoir St Theatre
Designer: Jacob Nash
Lighting Designer: Luiz Pampolha
Composer and Sound Designer: Steve Francis
With: Roy Billing, Megan Drury, Geoff Morrell, Torquil Neilson, Adrienne Pickering, Toni Scanlan and Toby Schmitz
“I will admit to favouring a drink. It’s unAustralian not to.”
When Company B Associate Artist Wayne Blair directed Ruben Guthrie in the 2008 B Sharp Season, the show sold out before it even opened. It was this week nominated for the Play Award in the 2009 NSW Premier’s Literary Award. Company B are excited to welcome Brendan Cowell, Toby Schmitz and Wayne – three of Australia’s most talked-about and prolific young theatre artists – Upstairs, for a brand new production of Brendan’s razor-sharp comedy-with-a-twist, opening May 27.
Ruben is 29 and a hot shot Creative Director of advertising agency, Subliminal. He’s engaged to a model and Sydney is his oyster. As far as Ruben’s concerned (his Dad too), it’s unAustralian not to enjoy a regular tipple. One infamous industry awards night however, his tippling topples him off a hotel roof and into a baby pool. Next thing this hot shot knows, he’s off to AA with the biggest hangover of his life.
Ruben Guthrie was Brendan Cowell’s Philip Parson’s Young Playwright’s Award commission and it drew the biggest crowd the Downstairs Theatre has seen to date. According to Director Wayne Blair (The Removalists, Romeo and Juliet, Jesus Hopped the ‘A’ Train), the Upstairs production will take on a new lease of life, having been recreated and redesigned for the main stage space.
"Ruben Guthrie exploded in the Belvoir St Downstairs Theatre last year – the vibe was electric. We wanted to keep the essence of Brendan’s sharp-edged work, whilst helping it to grow and fill the Upstairs space. So we’ve reworked the script and the production has been re-imagined – it feels like a very natural progression for a Philip Parsons commission that has blossomed into a main stage production.
“Ruben has the same life, the same friends and the same issues with booze. All we’ve done is created a world where these elements are even closer to the surface and more relevant to a mainstream audience than ever before. And, as is always possible with Brendan’s work, we’re throwing open the Belvoir St Theatre doors to one and all – to an audience that is willing to take a long hard look at the Australian subculture of binge drinking, and have a good old chuckle at the same time.”
Company B Artistic Director, Neil Armfield, says, “This is a cracker of a play. The irony is, having commissioned Ruben Guthrie in 2006, we passed on it initially. It was Wayne Blair's determination and the commitment of the independent artists who worked in the Downstairs Theatre that gave Ruben Guthrie a life and revealed its breadth of appeal and resonance. I'm so grateful we were granted that rare opportunity, a second chance at producing this marvellous new play.”
The cast includes Roy Billing (Underbelly, Packed to the Rafters, Cloudstreet), Megan Drury (All Saints, The Golden Ass, Love’s Triumph), Geoff Morrell (Ten Empty, Rabbit, Grass Roots, A Cheery Soul), Torquil Neilson (Love My Way, The Secret Life of Us), Adrienne Pickering (Sea Patrol, Out of the Blue, Rogue Nation), Toni Scanlan (King Tide, Water Rats, View from the Bridge) and Toby Schmitz (Travesties, Rabbit, The Great).
“I think black-outs are a gift from God. He takes the details we care not to remember and politely lifts them out of the brain, so we wake up and all we can recall is heading out and coming home. It’s nice – of God.”
Cowell's script treads a fine line between humour and seriousness... the show is certainly effective in getting across the public health message. Rudd may like to pick it up for his campaign. The Australian
It’s finely constructed, beautifully realised, meaningful, highly entertaining and deserves to be a big hit. Stage Noise
Toby Schmitz gives a brilliant virtuoso performance as Ruben Guthrie. The Australian
Company B presents
Ruben Guthrie
Season dates 28 May – 5 July
Previews Sat 23 and Sun 24 May. All preview tickets $34
Opening night Wed 27 May
Times Tuesday 6.30pm, Wednesday to Friday 8pm, Saturday 2pm & 8pm, Sunday 5pm.
Tickets Full $56. Seniors (excluding Fri/Sat evenings) and Groups 10+ $46. Concession $34
Student Rush $25 for Tuesday 6.30pm and Saturday 2pm, available from 10am on the day (subject to availability)
Venue Belvoir St Theatre, 25 Belvoir St, Surry Hills
BOOKINGS 9699 3444 or www.belvoir.com.au
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