La Mama at The Courthouse, May 2 until
May 11, 2002
Reviewer: Kate Herbert on May 2, 1995
this review published in Herald Sun in May 2002. KH
Three of the most vulgar, drunken
and foul-mouthed Aussie males are the subject of The Dunny, written and
directed by Daniel Lillford. Astoundingly, playwright, Lillford, manages to
make these three unpleasant blokes lovable.
It is a
treat to see a Lillford play return to the Melbourne stage since he emigrated
to Canada. The Dunny is a funny, brazen and distinctly Australian play. Perhaps
it takes distance to appreciate the Aussie idiom completely.
Three sign
writers from different generations trundle up to the bush to their shared
galvanised iron shack for a bloke's weekend on the booze.
Robbo (Jeff
Keogh) is a rugged, gruff 44 year old. The flip side of his vulgarity and
booziness is his loyalty to both is unfaithful wife and to Pops, (Don Bridges)
the older sign writer who taught him his trade.
Pops is a
damaged Vietnam war veteran, one of the old school of sign writers with a work
ethic. He is slowing down, his vision is going and he is about to be sacked.
Chooky (Michael
Burkett) is the youngest, the most talkative and the one with the crudest
attitude to women and work. He is in the habit of getting himself hurt and
saying the wrong thing.
The
grotesqueness of their drunkenness, language and their knocking and teasing of
their mates is offset by their total loyalty to one another. There is no place
for women in this bush retreat. In fact, it is difficult to see how these
blokes could relate to women at all.
The play is
tough, gritty realism. Lillford's writing is pithy, witty and dialogue is
realistic. Characters are impeccably observed and each is well-defined and
distinctive.
The balance
of the comic and poignant is excellent. Lillford's direction is slick and
seamless.
Performances
by all three actors are exceptionally colourful, stylish and skillful. Bridges
brings great dignity to Pops. Keogh balances the rough with the emotional in
Robbo while Burkett, as the maddening Chooky, is a highlight.
Greg
Carroll's design creates a rustic galvo shack and lighting by Ian Patching is
evocative.
This is a
very entertaining play that captures the Aussie male character frighteningly
well.
By Kate
Herbert
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