Love is like war: easy to begin but very hard to stop. H. L. Mencken

In January 2007, the Tamarama Rock Surfers and The Old Fitzroy Theatre are thrilled to play host to Queensize Productions with their world premiere of Redheads by award winning Australian playwright Noëlle Janaczewska (Songket, Mrs Petrov’s Shoe - winner of the 2006 QLD Premier’s Drama Award).

It’s 2006. Ruth is in love with Frank, Joanna is in love with Guthrie and Australia continues to pursue the US. The problem here is the object of affection in all cases is completely indifferent about a serious and equal relationship. While audiences witness the present day romantic dilemma’s of Ruth and Joanna - R G Menzies and General MacArthur appear onstage to speak a collage of their own words (all on the public record and drawn largely from 1949–1954). They offer comment from our combined history and in doing so draw a deep and sharp line between the present and the past adding a surreal, unsettling and audaciously theatrical touch to the play. Although the event they refer to is the Korean War, the symmetry with our current reality is compelling. Swap Communists for Muslims, and the Far East for the Middle East and the politics could be here and now - 2006.

Redheads is about hypocrisy and delusion, deception and self-deception. It’s about our desire to fall in love, to be in a relationship, and our willingness to rush in even when all the signs are indicating: this really isn’t such a great idea.

Before we knew of Bush and Howard, we knew of MacArthur and Menzies. Then, as it is now, the USA’s ‘junior partner’ pledged its allegiance to the US and was effectively drawn into the Korean War. Ruth, Joanna and Frank, are the products of our present political environment, with its emphasis on individualism and economic bottom lines. Self-absorbed, vacuous - despite veneers of education and culture, Ruth, Joanna and Frank all seem unwilling - or unable - to learn from past mistakes. Sound familiar??

Blending a present day story of love and betrayal with the verbatim commentary from Menzies and MacArthur, director Tanya Denny has added a healthy dash of 1950’s camp and a couple of musical numbers to present a funny, sexy and thought provoking production. Redheads explores infatuation, unrequited deluded one-sided and ultimately fruitless love through a present day love affair and one from our political past.


Queensize Productions presents the World premiere of
Redheads
By Noëlle Janaczewska

Producer: Sam Hawker (Silence, The Golden Ass)
Director: Tanya Denny (Silence, Fidelity)
Set and costume design: Katja Handt (The Young Tycoons, The Golden Ass)
Lighting design: Stephen Hawker (Holding the Man, Hedwig and the Angry Inch)

Cast: Peter Astridge (Tragedy, The Misanthrope), Beth Champion (Away, Razzle Dazzle), Peter McAllum (Much Ado About Nothing, Headland), Clarrie Thane, and Emily Weare (The Frail Man, Fallen Angels)

Venue: The Old Fitzroy Theatre – Cnr Cathedral & Dowling Sts, Woolloomooloo.
Dates: 3rd – 27th January 2007
Times: Tuesday – Saturday @ 8pm & Sunday @ 5pm
Opening: Thursday 4th January 8pm (Invitation only)
Preview: 3rd January 2007 – 8pm - $16
Tickets: $19 Concession, $27 Adult, $33 Beer, Laksa & Show
Special: Cheap Tuesdays - $16 Adult, $24 Beer Laksa & Show
Bookings: (02) 9294 4296 or www.oldfitzroy.com.au