Don Parties On

Don Parties On
By David Williamson. Sydney Theatre. February 17 – March 8, 2011.

It’s August 21st2010 and what a night it promises to be as old friends gather to watch Australia’s political players battle it out for dominance in latest federal election stoush.

Twenty years ago Don and Cath staged their last election party and much has changed since those heady days of 1969, where free love and political reform eventually gave way to conspicuous consumption, globalisation, AIDS and more recently issues such as climate change.

As Don and Cath swing into party mode while at the same time trying to gently deal with the breakdown of their son Richard’s marriage and its impact on their grand-daughter Belle, the atmosphere grows expectant with the potential clash between ghosts from the past and the realities of life now in 2010.

One by one the old gang arrives all a little aged and worse for wear, ready to watch Kerry O’Brien from the tally room deliver the results seat by seat as the election unfolds. The classic Penfolds red is generously swigged as friends catch up on recent times - their wins and losses - and reminisce through rose coloured glasses about the past and how much easier life had been back then.

And as the mood of the election changes throughout the night, so too does the topic of conversation, which swings from political disillusionment, infidelity, divorce, climate change and the disconnect between the generations.

It is here that Williamson is at his best - he is comfortable with these characters even 20 years on. The witty one liners, repartee and good old Australian piss taking between the faithful is nimble, and clever in typical Williamson style. It is obvious that he has enjoyed the process of breathing new life into these characters. And for the audience it is a joy to watch such a competent cast handle the delivery of such complex and rhythmic dialogue, making it seem almost effortless.

But it is in the younger characters where the writing and the play in general show weakness. In trying to portray the generations of Don and Cath’s family it has revealed Williamson’s own generational gap and lack of understanding of what Gen X and Gen Y are really all about. The younger characters such as Richard, Belle and Roberta (Richard’s mistress) tend to feel under developed and almost two dimensional.

It is interesting to note too that the approach by director Robyn Nevin (a contemporary of Williamson) while fluid and confident when dealing with the older characters also struggles to find clarity with the younger characters and at times the style slips into exaggerated farce which seems out of place.

But it is rare that a new play features strong roles for women which really do tend to overshadow the men. There are standout performances. Most notably, Tracy Mann’s Cath who is contemporary and wise, providing the glue throughout the story and Sue Jones’ portrayal of Jenny which is contemplative and bolshie, with an underlying fragility that shows a woman who is still trying to come to terms with an abortion as a result of some flippant wife swapping and a son who died from AIDS.

There is a sophistication in the set design which pays homage to the 60’s and 70’s, with subtle additions such as halogen down lights and flat screen TV’s to show how Don and Cath’s family home has changed throughout the years.

While Don Parties On won’t change the world - it doesn’t profess to want. But what it does do is give the audience and entertaining evening and classic Williamson in the tradition of the election party without the hangover.

Whitney Fitzsimmons

Images - (Top): Garry McDonald, Robert Grubb and Frankie J. Holden. (Middle)  Back row: Robert Grubb, Frankie J. Holden, Garry McDonald, Front row: Sue Jones, Diane Craig, Tracy Mann. (Lower Back row: Frankie J. Holden and Diane Craig, , Front row: Garry McDonald and Tracy Mann. Photographer: Jeff Busby.

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