Catering for all tastes

THE directors in charge of the 2014 Noosa One Act Play Festival have put their individual stamps on three very different productions that collectively offer something for all tastes.
The Invitation, directed by former ABC radio drama teen star and 12th Night Theatre Ensemble member Liza Park, has audience members chuckling at what appears to be a disastrous motherly mistake.
Ms Park said the play by Western Australian author Michelle McCormick was the most challenging she had ever directed because of its “Pinter-esque” writing, a term referring to playwright Harold Pinter whose plays often begin innocently and travel into threatening and absurd territory.
“The cast and I worked on bringing the words to life in a way that modern audiences would accept, and so far, it would appear from the response, that we found a measure of success,” Ms Park said.
Award winning director and actor Kate Cullen said mid-life crisis comedy Instructions for Two or More Players by Michiko Parnell, also from Western Australia, offered harsh but hilarious home truths.
“Given that a lot of the patrons are either middle age or older, there is an abundance of material that the audience are relating to,” Ms Cullen said.
“It is mesmerising to witness their reactions of people, lots of laughter with elbow nudging, shoulder tapping and loud whispering. It’s obvious they’re reliving their lives up on stage in a comic and light-hearted way.”
The night ends with “The Devil’s Dance” written by Noosa councillor and journalist Frank Wilkie and directed by highly experienced director, actor and theatre company co-founder Jane Rivers.
“This is a strong, dark piece of drama on a very pertinent theme,” Ms Rivers said.
“Ultimately, it’s a play of redemption, where good triumphs over evil, a story that needs to be told.”
The three finalists were chosen anonymously by a Brisbane-based panel of three industry experts out of 71 entries from across Australia, New Zealand and the U.S.
Tickets to the final performances on 17,18 and 19 July at the Noosa Arts Theatre, Weyba Road, Noosaville, are still available. Phone 5449 9343 or online at www.noosaartstheatre.org.au to book your seat.