World Premiere and Coward Classic in One-act Comedy Combo.
MELVILLE Theatre (WA) is presenting two very different comedies from February 8 – the world premiere of the adaptation of an Australian short story, Someone Called Rob, and a classic British comedy, Hands Across The Sea by Noël Coward.
Martin Lindsay’s Someone Called Rob was featured in the book Best Australian Stories 2012 and he has now adapted it for the stage.
Jeffrey Hansen is directing the comedy, which explores the miscommunication and subsequent paranoia that can occur from a simple mistake.
“It's a great opportunity to work with the playwright and hone the new work – we originally had an informal read-through, out of which came quite a few changes to the script,” he said
Lindsay said the story evolved from an incident at a friend’s birthday drinks.
“A couple of girls were already three sheets to the wind when I arrived and one gate-crashed another group, leaving some dodgy comment on a birthday card along with her mobile number for some reason best known to herself,” he said.
“She subsequently received an angry call the next day, so lord knows what had been written.
“From there, I wondered where things might go if a particularly aggressive boyfriend had seen a flirty birthday card comment from another guy with a phone number.”
Noël Coward’s Hands Across The Sea, directed by Tarryn Bullock, will join Lindsay’s play as part of a double-bill.
Set in 1936, a couple invite so many people to a cocktail party they can’t remember who they have invited, leading to cases of mistaken identity and confusion all round.
“Though written in the mid-1930s, the humour is transferable to the present because it’s a comical reflection of human foolishness and imperfections,” Bullock said.
“I have always loved British comedy and find great pleasure in the humour of playwrights such as Noël Coward and Oscar Wilde.
“I chose this particular play from Coward’s series Tonight at 8:30 because of its simple humour, historical setting and continuing relevance to today’s audience – some of his other short plays have dated somewhat.”
Someone Called Rob and Hands Across The Sea play at 8pm, February 8, 9, 14, 15 and 16 with a 2pm matinee February 10.
Tickets are $18, $14 concession – book on 9330 4565.
Please note: Someone Called Rob contains language some people may find offensive.
Melville Theatre is on the corner of Stock Road and Canning Highway, Palmyra. More information is available at www.meltheco.org.au.
Images (from top): Ruhama Geiger, left, plays Kate in the world premiere of Someone Called Rob with Faraz Hedayat as jealous boyfriend Adam; Author Martin Lindsay, front centre, with the cast of Someone Called Rob – Faraz Hedayat, Ruhama Geiger, Rob Gander and Annie Blatchford;Katrina Murphy plays Piggie Gilpin in Noel Coward’s Hands Across The Sea, & Glenn Rykenrapp, left, plays Mr Wadhurst in Noel Coward’s Hands Across The Sea with Di Ryman as Mrs Wadhurst, Cary Hudson as Commander Peter Gilpin and Katrina Murphy as Piggie Gilpin.
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