Directed by Edgar Metcalfe
AM
starring:
Geoff Kelso
Helen Doig
Dan Luxton
Angelique Malcolm
Maggie Anketell
and introducing:
Seton Pollock
Miley Tunnecliffe
In the days before mechanical harvesting, two sugarcane
cutters, travel south every summer for the lay-off, like
bronzed 'eagles flying south out of the sun'. In the
seventeenth year of this unusual arrangement between
Roo, Barney, Olive and Nancy, a metamorphosis is inevitable…
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“The play still throws light on the sad process of fading
dreams. Lawler’s rough and ready characters – Olive,
Nancy, Roo and Barney – are the cornerstone of our national
drama” Graeme Blundell
First staged in 1955, it has just enjoyed its 50th anniversary.
The play has long been a High School syllabus text, and continues
to be one of Australia's most successful theatrical exports.
When it first opened on the West End in London it played to
rave reviews for 7 months and won the Evening Standard's Play
of the Year award. Many regard it still as Australia’s
greatest play.
Mr Edgar Metcalfe, who is directing says… "it is Australia's most
famous and historically significant play and should be done regularly".
Summer
of the Seventeenth Doll was performing in TERM THREE
- JULY 28 to AUGUST 12, 2006.
(Tues-Sat, 8pm)
Comments from Schools:
CBC Fremantle:
"Overall it was a good production. Barney and Pearl were
authentic and outstanding."
Carmel Adventist College:
"A polished performance. Aussie culture meeting the pressure
of change – how do we cope?"
Methodist Ladies’ College:
"Great to see The Doll on!"
Rockingham SHS:
"Thank you for a very entertaining, positive and educationally
rewarding experience. My students haven’t stopped talking
about it."
Applecross SHS:
"Great show with a fantastic troupe of actors. This was
a fine production."
Corpus Christi College:
"The cost of the excursion was excellent and the quality
of the production was in excess of this – congratulations!
The students maintained good level of interest despite the
length. My staff were very pleased with the response of their
students. Thank you, Class Act Theatre!"
West Hightlights:
Summer of the Seventeenth Doll as reviewed by Olivia Mair
in The West Australian on Wed August 2nd 2006:
"in the capable hands of Class Act Theatre the story
is no less gripping and the characters no less lovable than
they were for audiences half a century ago."
"The talented cast, who appear to revel in the "earbashin" and "gassin" of
Lawler's delightful vernacular, are utterly convincing in their
roles."
"So strong were all the leads, in fact, that every
time I came close to singling one out, I found myself unable
to
do so."
"Under the expert direction of Edgar Metcalfe, the
company makes this Australian
classic shine."
"the set... ...beautifully offsets the dynamism of
the plot"
"If you see one play in Perth this year, make sure
it is The Doll."
