Senior Moments

Writers Angus FitzSimons and Kevin Brumpton have compiled a charming little revue that picks up on many of the topics that plague, annoy and, strangely, seem to fascinate the ‘senior’ generations. Everything old from radio programs to Brylcreem is revered; everything modern from mobile phones to Lady Ga Ga is reviled. It’s funny in ‘grumpy oldies style’ and certainly amused the assortment of generations in the opening night audience – many of whom may have been there just to see some of our more venerated actors ‘take the Mickey’ out of Gen-Old.

Benita Collings, Lex Marinos, John Derum, Penny Cook and Russell Newman all have long and respected careers in radio, stage, television and film. Getting them together on stage is something of a coup – and the fact that the season is sold out is indicative of their audience appeal. Accompanied on piano by another well-known ‘oldie’, Geoff Harvey, and supported by Nicola Parry and Christian Barratt-Hill playing the ‘young people they have to deal with’, they take the audience on an ascerbic cruise through nostaligic reminiscence – and pesky peeves.

In typical revue style, there is a mixture of parodies and short sketches, some of which are very clever and comical, some a little too laboured and long. This is exacerbated by a production technique that relies far too much on between-scene blackouts and humorous but over-used radio-style voice-over ‘commercial breaks’ that slow the production and make it seem less than professional. There just isn’t the pace that is the hallmark of good revue.

Nevertheless, the material is funny - and much of it delivered well. John Derum plays a rusty song-and-dance man in Modern Age Retiree, in a clever parody on Gilbert and Sullivan. Senior Mastermind craftily quizzes its contestants on the old names for contemporary institutions … remember terms like PMG and The Bank of NSW?

Penny Cook and Nicola Parry deliver a telling little ‘interview’ on Alzheimer’s, and come together with Lex Marinos and Christian Barratt-Hill in an astute, and beautifully performed, sketch about how grandparents really feel about the unusual names bequeathed upon their grandchildren.

In his hospital bed, Russell Newman plays a recovering elderly patient suffering a barrage of criticism and nasty suggestions from his two ungrateful children (Parry and Barratt-Hill). When asked if he has any regrets he replies bitterly – and very shrewdly: “Sometimes I regret that it’s still visiting hours!”

Benita Collings leads a marathon sketch based on Play School (of course), where many of the pet peeves of old age are told in a continuous string of nursery rhyme paraodies. This is a colourful segment – albeit too long – that ties up the theme of the revue quite skilfully and leads the cast into the finale Click Go the Years.

It is delightful to see these ‘more mature’ performers back on stage in an entertaining but perhaps under-directed production.

Carol Wimmer

Photographer: Stephen Reinhardt