Quartet

Quartet
By Ronald Harwood. The Adelaide Repertory Theatre. April 9 – 18, 2015

Acclaimed playwright Ronald Harwood (The Dresser) wrote this little gem in 1999; inspired after watching a documentary about the opera. Some may be familiar with the Dustin Hoffman directed 2012 film of the same name. The play centres on the lives of four retired opera singers who live in an English retirement village. You could be mistaken for thinking the subject matter might only appeal to the grey set, but you could not be more wrong. Entertaining from beginning to end, directors Sue Wylie and Ian Rigney have done a fine job in breathing life into an already fertile script. Brimming with sentiment and an abundance of humour, they have done well to cast an experienced group of actors who do justice to this delightfully clever tale.

Vinnie Eustice’s set does well to capture the garden patio, whilst giving us a sneak peek into the music room where the action takes place in Act Two. We are introduced to three residents, Reggie, Cissy and Wilf, as the curtain goes up. Cissy (Julie Quick) is lost in the music of Rigoletto that she is listening to via a portable CD player complete with headphones. She is oblivious to the advances of Wilf (Brian Knott), who never misses an opportunity to tell her of his fondness to wake up beside her amongst other more sexually explicit remarks. They are joined by Reginald (Russell Starke), a more dapper refined man who is busy working on his autobiography. What is apparent early is the chemistry between the players, the believability that they indeed have been friends for many years. Each carries with them past regrets and hurts, but have found common ground as they live out their senior years. Their routine is interrupted with the arrival of Jean Horton (Jean Walker), a diva of proportions, who is not unknown to them. Reginald is most upset having been married and quickly dumped many years earlier by Miss Horton. The entire cast have captured the quirks of their characters beautifully. Each is likeable and you find yourself empathising with the frustrations of getting older.

After much deliberation, rehearsals begin for their October performance of the famous ‘Quartet’. An annual celebration to mark Verdi’s birthday. As Cissy remarks, ‘It is nice to have something to look forward to’.

Though inspired, the finale does not do justice to the build-up. Perhaps a little more time was needed, as the lip syncing seemed under-rehearsed. However do not let this deter you as you will laugh and be lost in this nostalgic tale about aging.

Kerry Cooper

Images: Brian Knott, Julie Quick and Russell Starke, & Julie Quick and Jean Walker

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