No Names, No Packdrill

No Names, No Packdrill
By Bob Herbert. Directed by Kristen Twynam-Perkins. Old Mill Theatre, South Perth, WA. 4-19 December 2015

No Names, No Packdrill is the final production in Old Mill Theatre's 2015 Season of Australian plays. This Bob Herbert play is set in Sydney, during World War II.

Central character Kathy is brilliantly played by Melissa Merchant, who captures this no-nonsense single girl beautifully, a wonderful, with whom the audience quickly bond. Like all of the ladies in this production, she looks like she has stepped out of a 1942 Women's Weekly with outstanding  wartime costuming, hair and makeup.

Catalyst for action, Henry 'Rebel' Potter, is played with depth by Cameron Leese. Very convincing, his Southern American accent is perhaps a little too accurate, as it is sometimes difficult to catch all of his dialogue.

Sjaan Lucas is sweet as flibbertigibbet Joycie, while Norma Davis revels in the busy-body bitchiness of nasty landlady Mrs. Palmer.

Sam Barnett is every inch the larrikin Aussie con-man and looks perfect as 'Tiger' Kelly and Paul Treasure gives a beautifully nuanced and complete performance as Detective Sergeant Browning.

The remaining men were all in desperate need of haircuts, but despite this distraction, Joel Sammels plays Bernie well and promising stage debuts were made by Caelan Steedman and James Smith.

The single set was solidly constructed and properties were generally accurate to the period, with no glaring anomalies. John Woolrych's no-nonsense lighting plot was operated well by Catherine O'Donoghue and although a nearby concert added some unplanned King's Cross background noise, Simon Winton's sound design worked well.

A thoughtfully directed, well performed show that was a pleasure to watch.

Kimberley Shaw

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