Long
before “Grey Nomad” became a tick box on the Census form, David
Williamson’s Travelling North was flirting with ideas of retirees
travelling in search of warmer climates and a change in lifestyle.Written
thirty years ago, Travelling North puts the lives, decisions and
health of Frank(Terence Donovan) and his new love Frances(Sandy Gore)
under the microscope.Frank and Frances are eager to
embrace life in the north, Tweed Heads, whilst Frances’ daughters
bicker over whether there mother should stay home and help rear their
young families or be saved from a possible life time of geriatric
nursing.If family disputes, heart and lung illness and
sex for the over fifties are not your cup of tea, you may have cause to
stop here.Yet, the issues covered in Travelling North are larger than this and maintain some relevance today.Set
in Australia against the distant backdrop of the Vietnam War and with a
change of government in the air, Travelling North tries to explore
the depth and substance of the characters’ conviction and commitment.When does a promise become an obligation? What makes on obligation a burden?
Terence
Donovan as Frank, the cantankerous, dissatisfied, senior citizen
bristling at his own aging yet pushing forward with fervour provides
the cornerstone performance for this production.Equally
engaging are Sandy Gore as Frances, (strangely reminiscent of Maggie
Beers) and Ross Thompson as the nosey neighbour and general all round
nice Aussie bloke, Freddy Wicks.Lewis Fiander wins the
sweepstakes with a warm and funny portrayal of Dr Saul Morgenstein, the
local doctor responsible for administering medical and philosophical
advice to the aging and ill Frank.These four
performances stitch up the theatrical slice of life for which
Williamson is renowned, even if this isn’t your slice of life or the
familiar - Frank, Frances, Freddy and the Doctor draw you in and
divulge all.The work of Composer Andrew Pendlebury
supported the performance superbly, highlighting the dark and light in
the relationships, emotions and settings of the play.
Less
impressive were the performances of Kate Cole and Shelly Lauman as
Helen and Sophie, Frances’ Melbourne based daughters who are not sure
what growing up and leaving home amounts to.Some of the
direction of these characters looked stiff and unconvincing, this was
compounded by performances which at times were wooden and shallow,
leaving one feeling bemused instead of amused.Whilst
there were some questionable costume and set choices, which make this
production, seem a little incongruent, Williamson’s story and
characters have their day.
The
staging of a David Williamson play seems to inevitably bring up the
discussion of whose Australia does he write of and for whom does he
write?Exactly to what extent are “the contemporary
Australian middle class” enthralled with themselves? The fact that this
and many other Williamson plays are being revisited year after year,
one could say “a lot”.
QPAC’s Travelling North is a safe choice. It will not change the face of
theatre goers in Queensland, at times it smacks of snobbery and
reinforces the shallow perspectives heard in the country vs city or
southerners vs northerners debate known in Australia, but is this
Williamson or is this Australia? Did Williamson capture the perpetual
themes first time round?If you can see these questions
off, Travelling North seems to be an apt production to be revisiting
as we herald in a new government, bring troops back home and wave off
our oldies in their campervans.
Queensland Theatre Company presents HIT Productions'
Travelling North by David Williamson
Venue: Playhouse, QPAC Dates: 19 Aug - 6 Sep 2008 Tickets: (inc. fees) $27.00 to $59.00 Duration: 2 hours (inc 20 min interval) Visit:www.qldtheatreco.com.au
Long
before “Grey Nomad” became a tick box on the Census form, David
Williamson’s Travelling North was flirting with ideas of retirees
travelling in search of warmer climates and a change in lifestyle.
