The Club

One of the definitions of the word meeting is ‘an assembly or gathering of two or more people for a specific purpose’. The Club, by David Williamson, uses many such informal and self-managed meetings to expose the wheeling and dealing & power struggles in this satirical play set in a late 1970’s Australian Football Club Boardroom.

In Galleon Theatre’s production, Peter Smith is a fervent Ted Parker, the Club president. His character’s great passion and love for the game and the local club seeps through his performance.

Andrew Horwood has great comic timing as Jock Riley, the ex-coach. Complete macho-competitiveness dominates his drive to reach the top.  Horwood uses his height well to be physically intimidating and is hilarious in a bonding scene with Geoff.

Hal Bruce, as Geoff, comes on with attitude and a swagger. Flamboyantly dressed and brimming with self-confidence, he is the embodiment of the overpriced sports star.

Aldo Longobardi keeps calm and cool as Gerry Cooper, the club’s administrator. Businesslike, this is a man who thinks only of the money. There is only a hint of slyness, and this could have been projected more as Gerry works the ‘success at any price’ motto.

Warren McKenzie executes the character of Laurie Holden well, as the coach desperately seeking a win. Myles Teakle is Danny Rowe, the football player’s captain and ex club champ. Though lacking the physically of a football player, Teakle is feisty and brings out Danny’s loyalties well.

This is a technically sound production and black and white photos of past players lining the boardroom walls give a nice touch to the set.

There are great laughs to be had, more so as the second act unfolds and a love of football is not really necessary to enjoy this production.

Sharon Malujlo

Image: Left to right - Aldo Longobardi, Andrew Horwood, Peter Smith, Warren McKenzie, Myles Teakle and Hal Bruce.

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