Let the Sunshine

Let the Sunshine
By David Williamson. Directed by Dennis More. The Q – Queanbeyan Performing Arts Centre. 26 - 29 April, 2012, and touring regional Australia.

At one point Emma, a high-flying corporate lawyer, explains that she had wanted to be a teacher but her father ‘thought she could do better’. My 13-year-old daughter immediately elbowed me: yes, I’ve inadvertently said precisely that to her once. She’d then repeated it to all of her teachers at her Year 6 graduation. That’s why you go to see a David Williamson play, for those awkward flashes when you recognise something that makes you squirm while you laugh.

Williamson’s Let the Sunshine is a social satire on disillusioned left-leaning intellectual baby boomers’ disappointment. Toby is a Robert Fisk-type character, a cantankerous producer of earnest, left-wing documentaries, while his wife Ros publishes literature. Toby is such a grumpy sod, the only people they can cajole to Toby’s 60th birthday are ultra-rich property developer Ron and his superficial wife Natasha. This staging includes an all-star cast, all of whom acquit themselves well. Peter Phelps, Alexandra Fowler and Hannah Norris bring out all the hilarious awfulness of property developer Ron and his family, while Ryan Hayward brought depth and subtlety to Toby's son Rick. Comic timing was very tight, but there was scope for a slightly greater dynamic range, particularly at the beginning when all lines seemed to be pitched at a shout.

David Williamson’s gift is for caricature and dialogue and there are laughs to be had from beginning to end. That said, the script is not without flaws. The trajectories of the character arcs and the simplicity of the characters (verging on stereotypes) really leave the plot nowhere much to go than the way it does, leading to a degree of predictability.

Williamson’s plays stand on the strength of the satire which is more than enough to engage the audience throughout.

Audiences around Australia will have the opportunity to see this excellent production with this tour – although you’ll have to google the details. Highly recommended.

Cathy Bannister

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