My Fair Lawyer Starring Martin Portus
Actor, journalist and (most importantly Stage Whispers' reviewer) Martin Portus is returning to the stage in the lead role of Tony Laumberg's latest hilarious poke at the legal profession - My Fair Lawyer at the Bondi Theatre Company from June 20-28.
Portus plays Henry Crowley, who has lived with his long suffering wife Margaret in a childless marriage in peaceful uber-white St Ives for over 25 years. Henry, an outspoken lawyer, is too busy leading his prominent Sydney law firm worry about romance.
"It is very very funny. The more I read it the more I laugh," said Portus.
"Henry is a very pompous, but a very successful lawyer, who just wants time when he gets home from work to not be bothered by a wife who hits the bottle abit and wants attention - sexual attention. Then this girl turns up from Cessnock (Cheryl) who says she is his daughter."
The couple's quiet conservative lives go into a tailspin.To make matters worse, Henry and Margaret are secretly seeing the same psychiatrist, noted Indian shrink, Rahmish J Punjab. And to say his methods are unusual would be an understatement!
Portus was cast as one of the original Olivers in the musical when it opened in Australia and his acting credits have included stints in major state theatre companies, on TV in the Young Doctors and seen recently in the netfllix movie This Little Love of Mine.
Deirdre Campbell plays Margaret, Jade Michailidis is Cheryl and Gantanter Singh Gill as Dr Punjab. It is directed by Richard Cotter, produced by David Spicer.
The playwright Tony Laumberg is a comedic writer and practising solicitor. He says he loves torturing his popular, returning character Henry Crowley. “His trials and tribulations are comedy gold! Plus, I want to explore the humour arising from the clash of ‘old-time Australian values’ and the modern-day ambition of entrepreneurial immigrants.”
The play includes a few My Fair Lady puns as Henry has to train Cheryl to talk proper legal when she requests a job at his law firm.
Laumberg has written 14 plays including Bondi Legal which has been produced around the country since it was produced by the Bondi Theatre Company in 2019 and can be purchased at the Book Nook Performing Arts Bookshop.
With set design by Tom Tafy and lighting design by Cian Byrne - the season includes two Q+A sessions: one featuring the cast, the other with the playwright (with a foot in both camps) on what it is about lawyers that inspires so much laughter!
My Fair Lawyer, by Tony Laumberg:
Bondi Pavilion Theatre 20-28 June | Playing time 75 mins (no interval)
Performance dates and times: SAT June 20th 5pm | SUN June 21st 6pm
TUE June 23rd 7:30pm plus Playwright Q+A: Making Fun of Lawyers!
WED June 24th 7:30pm plus Cast Q+A | SAT June 27th 4:30pm | SUN June 28th 6:30pm
Bookings: www.bonditheatrecompany.com.au
FREE PARKING ON QUEEN ELIZABETH DRIVE BONDI BEACH AFTER 7PM!!!!!
Tony Laumberg introduces his characters: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cu2ha7wjFdA