| Don's Party | MTC |
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 This long-awaited revival of David Williamson’s classic social satire shows why he has commanded our stages for more than 30 years.
MTC’s new Associate Director Peter Evans (The Give and Take, Dumb Show, The Daylight Atheist) has assembled a cast of true blue, rib-tickling talents: Glenn Hazeldine (BackBerner), AFI Award-winner Anita Hegh, Colin Lane (Lano & Woodley), Steve Le Marquand (He Died with a Falafel in His Hand), Mandy McElhinney (Comedy Inc), Travis McMahon (Last Man Standing), Rhys Muldoon (Grass Roots), Christopher Pitman (The Sapphires), Felicity Price (Unfolding Florence), Jacinta Stapleton (Stingers) and Logie-winner Alison Whyte.
In 1973, DON’S PARTY was the play in which Williamson
found his satirical line and length. Today, with another Liberal Party
Government comfortably ensconced and Labor in disarray, the play seems
timely and ready for a fresh audience.
On the night of the 1969 Federal election, Don (Steve Le Marquand) throws a party for his mates to watch the returns come in. With all the pre-election polls swinging their way, the blokes (Glenn Hazeldine, Colin Lane, Travis McMahon, Rhys Muldoon, Christopher Pitman) and their wives (Anita Hegh, Mandy McElhinney, Felicity Price, Jacinta Stapleton, Alison Whyte)
settle in for a booze-fuelled celebration of the inevitable and
long-awaited Labor win. But as the night wears on and victory ebbs
away, the alcohol and the thwarted hopes combine dangerously.
“David Williamson builds good comedy on the basis of an infallible
ear for the Oz vernacular, and creates superb theatre by orchestrating
his dialogue from elements that trip from the tongues of likeable fits
and misfits … DON’S PARTY holds up a wickedly articulate mirror against
the flight of enamel geese on the wall of an Australian house. “ – The Canberra Times
“On almost every level of theatre DON’S PARTY is superbly effective.
It is bold in form … Remorselessly and brilliantly the play lifts up
all those ticky-tacky houses on the hillside that these people have
pulled over themselves. The superior pond life thus exposed is paraded
in front of us with enormously rich and Rabelaisian comic flair” - National Times
“On the strength of DON’S PARTY ... I have no doubt that Mr Williamson
is the best playwright working in Australia, and one of the best in the
world ... there isn't a line, and not a character, that hasn't the ring
- just off-key - of one part of Australia, larger than life … it is
very, very funny.” – The Sydney Morning Herald
Melbourne Theatre Company presents
DON’S PARTY
by David Williamson
With Glenn Hazeldine, Anita Hegh, Colin Lane, Steve Le Marquand,
Mandy McElhinney, Travis McMahon, Rhys Muldoon, Christopher Pitman,
Felicity Price, Jacinta Stapleton, Alison Whyte
Director Peter Evans
Set & Costume Designer Dale Ferguson
Lighting Designer Matt Scott
Composer & Sound Designer Basil Hogios
Venue: the Arts Centre Playhouse until 10 February 2007
Previews: From 8 January 2007
Opens: Thursday 11 January 2007
Performance Schedule: Mon & Tue 6.30pm (8 & 9 Jan 8pm), Wed 1pm & 8pm, Thu & Fri 8pm, Sat 4pm & 8.30pm
Tickets: $16 - $72.10
Bookings: Ticketmaster 1300 136 166 or visit www.mtc.com.au
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Thursday, 04 December 2008
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