Adelaide Theatre Guide Review
"Moving Mountains" is a show that knows who its key demographic is and milks it. Telling a story of hijinks, romance and scandal in a Californian retirement village, "Moving Mountains" knows exactly what kind of characters, jokes and cultural references will fly with the blue rinse crowd, and, judging from the hearty laughs from the audience, they were right.
This farcical comedy follows Charlie, a 65-year-old retiree who acts as activities coordinator for his retirement village, activist for the over-60s, reluctant shoulder for his daughter to cry on, and Casanova of the complex - with a carefully maintained spreadsheet that allows him to keep track of his gaggle of Golden Girl visitors. His well-ordered, busy routine of dalliances and doorknock campaigns is disturbed by the arrival of Polly, a widow who captures his attention so completely that he's ready to kiss the player life goodbye. That is, until he discovers that Polly has a much younger and more exciting beau in mind already. Peppered with on-point criticism of society's fear of sexuality in seniors, this show has plenty to entertain the seniors in your life and open the minds of everyone else.
The show did feel drawn-out - although every scene felt necessary, they all could have been about 20 percent shorter and less repetitive - but had a good balance of cheekiness and decorum and kept the audience laughing. Andrew Clark led the strong ensemble with polish and pizzazz as Charlie, building up excellent chemistry with the rest of the cast. Other highlights included Sharon Pitardi as Charlie's daughter Elaine and Shelley Hampton as the sweet-and-unassuming-turned-fiery Polly, but the whole cast performed to a very high standard. Aside from a few questionable accent moments, there's not much to criticise from these actors - they were clearly well-rehearsed, working hard, and having fun doing it.
The set and costumes for the show were also excellent (and will give you a strong desire to buy pyjamas that match your bedspread). Charlie's condo was outfitted with an outstanding attention to detail, from the paintings on the wall to the knickknacks scattered about the set. It seemed like somewhere someone much younger would live, which, of course, is exactly the kind of thing a lively ladies' man would want. The only element that seemed out of place was the red and green spotted floor, that seemed less "mature, vibrant older man" and more "Dr Seuss".
If you've ever wondered what "Friends" would be like if all the friends were in their 60s, it would probably be something like this. Be warned though, it will give you highly unrealistic expectations about having a private sauna in your retirement condo.
Reviewed by Paige Mulholland
Broadway World Review
The Galleon Theatre Group is currently presenting the comedy, Moving Mountains, by Lawrence Roman, directed by Erik Strauts. He has assembled a very experienced cast and ensured plenty of pace. As usual, patrons have the choice of cabaret style seating, enabling them to bring supper, or traditional theatre seating. Food and drinks are available from the cafe and a complementary sherry is offered on arrival. The company covers all of the bases to ensure a good night out.
Californian widower, Charlie Fuller, lives in a unit in a retirement complex and each day he announces the social events on offer. To a select few, he has other social events to offer. He fancies himself as a modern Don Juan, with a penchant for the numerous mature women living all around him, particularly Gwen, and his once a month visitor, Harriet.
Everything appears to be going his way, until Polly Adamson comes on the scene and, to make matters worse, his daughter learns of his lifestyle and is disapproving. Polly's son, Robert, is responsible for her arrival, having bullied her out of the family home in order to liquidate that asset. He has an ulterior motive in choosing that particular community, though. He is trying to initiate an affair with the wife of his business partner, and she just happens to be Charlie's daughter, Elaine. Polly's airline pilot nephew, Marc, is also a fly in the ointment.
Andrew Clark plays the suave seducer, Charlie, confidant, self-assured, and happy in his retirement. As Charlie's world changes, Clark builds the comedy through moments of his character's panic and periods of despair. This is one more in a long list of successful roles.
His current main playmate is Gwen, played with considerable energy by Lindy LeCornu, who also has great comic timing, making her and Clark a great pairing.
Polly, who has a few unexpected surprises in store to confound and confuse Charlie, and who has a good measure of his games, is played by Shelley Hampton in a cleverly constructed characterisation that garners a good share of the laughter.
The sophisticated doctor's wife, Charlie's daughter, Elaine, is played with elegance by Sharon Pitardi and financially obsessed accountant, Robert, is played by Josh van't Padje, his business focus getting in the way of his attempts at seduction bringing humour to their ongoing failures to connect.
Adrian Heness plays Marc, the lovelorn young man who seeks the advice of the older and wiser Charlie, which leads to more surprise comedy, and Kathy Strauts adds a few more laughs by arriving at inconvenient times as the outrageous, Harriet.
Brittany Daw has designed a smart set and added some fine dressing, the stained glass panel, in particular, drawing comments from members of the audience. Fill your picnic basket and book tickets for a fun night out.
Reviewed by Barry Lenny
GLAM Adelaide Review
Charlie Fuller has built himself a comfortable life in his retirement village, having several 'friends with benefits', all of who are aware of, and happy with the situation. His daughter thinks he needs looking after, that he may be declining, losing his grip. Meanwhile she is having her own dalliance with a work colleague. The arrival of a new widow and her nephew upsets the balance for both of them.
Lawrence Roman's play is cleverly written and Erik Strauts' fine direction brings out all the laughs. As Charlie, Andrew Clark is perfect. He is cheeky and manages to convince us that he is able to be just friends with all the ladies until Polly arrives. Shelley Hampton is believable as Polly, eager to find a friend but not looking for 'benefits', a fine performance. As Charlie's daughter Elaine, Sharon Pitardi is the epitome of the controlling daughter, self-obsessed and pushy.
The other two males in this tale are well played by Josh van't Padje and Adrian Heness. Charlie's other ladies, played by Lindy LeCornu and Kathy Strauts supply the extra colour and spice.
As usual, Galleon have provided a wonderfully detailed set, designed by Brittany Daw and decorated by Elaine Latcham. The action moves smoothly and the laughs come quickly. This is another fine Galleon production that you should not miss.
Reviewed by Fran Edwards
Stage Whispers Review
Lawrence Roman's Moving Mountains is a fun frolic in the hands of Galleon Theatre Group and very enjoyable, although even with 'light bulb moments' created by pings of sound, the meaning behind the play's title is never particularly obvious. Perhaps it is mostly that the lead character, Charlie Fuller, has to do a lot of manoeuvring to keep his multiple and concurrent sexual dalliances secret from his daughter, as well as separate from each of the women involved with him.
The twist is that Charlie is no spring chicken and gets up to all of this as a resident of a retirement home where his willing 'conquests' are also residents. But on the arrival of new resident, Polly, he meets his match. While he falls hook, line and sinker for her, she is disinterested and has a rather 'interesting' private life of her own.
Andrew Clark is terrific as Charlie and looks the part of an aging 'Lothario' with his superb head of silver hair, (courtesy of Galleon's hairdresser Anne-Louise Smith) and particularly so when he is resplendent in virtually matching dinner jacket. Clark effortlessly portrays a man who is at first a suave and carefree lover, but who begins to feel his age as he descends into someone who no longer has full control over his personal life.
As Polly, Shelley Hampton is completely convincing. In slightly underplaying the character, she brings out Polly's vulnerability and lack of confidence, her loneliness, as well as her inner warmth and practicality; an excellent performance.
Sharon Pitardi is very good as Charlie's chatty daughter, Elaine. Pitardi develops the character well, creating a woman who is loving, concerned for and overly protective of her father, but who has a complicated personal life of her own.
Josh van't Padje does good work as the irritating, ever-present and rather 'hyper' Robert, while Adrian Heness is delightful as enthusiastic young Marc who basks in the full, unexpected, but very welcome benefit of the skills his partner learns from a certain book.
As Gwen, Lindy LeCornu is wonderful. She has publicly dedicated her performance in this play to her recently deceased elderly mother. LeCornu's joyful and energy-filled portrayal is a fine testament to that very personal dedication. Her initial scene with Andrew Clark is vocally and physically hilarious as they both cavort about the bedroom, including in song and dance.
Kathy Strauts displays fantastic body language and vivacity as another of Charlie's ladies, Harriet, but could perhaps project her voice more. When I attended she was difficult to hear from the mezzanine seats.
Director Erik Strauts keeps the action moving at a cracking pace and ensures the cast use the performance space very well.
The attention to detail in Brittany Daw's set design is very well achieved on stage and the use of Charlie's regular news broadcasts to the residents of the retirement village is a great way to cover the blackouts during scene changes. These broadcasts are another example of Andrew Clark's skill too, with his tone in the ongoing broadcasts gradually changing, reflecting the increasingly complicated and stressful elements of Charlie's love life.
Sound and lighting design is excellent, as is usual for Galleon Theatre Group.
Screenwriter - Playwright Lawrence Roman is probably better known for Under the Yum-Yum Tree and contributions to film than for this play, yet Moving Mountains does not pretend to be more than it is- an enjoyable, funny and light-hearted night out. By the audience reaction to Galleon Theatre Group's production when I attended, that was more than enough for all.
Reviewed by Lesley Reed
The Barefoot Review
Galleon's Moving Mountains is reliable farce. It delivers on the laughs and there is much coming and going through doors. In the hands of director Erik Strauts, and his cast of players, it makes for a very enjoyable evening out at the theatre.
Charlie Fuller is all about moving mountains; particularly when it comes to the ladies in his retirement village. Charlie has "arrangements" with many of the women, and a reputation to boot, but when this friend-with-benefits falls in love, everything starts to unravel. Andrew Clark's Charlie is charming and affable. The show hinges on his performance, and Clark carries the cast of crazy characters through the highs and lows with impressive energy. Lindy LeCornu and Kathy Strauts as Charlie's lovers Gwen and Harriet, don't get a lot of opportunity for character development but they absolutely bring the laughs.
When Charlie's daughter Elaine, played by Sharon Pitardi, shows up the stakes are really raised. The paternal relationship between Pitardi and Clark is initially hard to buy as the two seem closer in age than father and daughter. However their performance overcomes this quickly.
Elaine is eagerly followed by her hotfooted wannabe lover Robert, who is also her and her husbands stock broker - with a wife of his own! Theirs is all the worst aspects of relationships set in stark contrast with the burgeoning love of Charlie's life. Josh Van't Padje embodies Robert with a nerdy energy that fits, but feels a tad desperate in the shadow of Pitardi's constant rejection.
But it is when Polly Adamson moves into the village that Charlie becomes besotted. Robert is her son and, in a sly move on his part, he aims to see more of Elaine whilst visiting his own dear mother. Polly is a shy widower, and Charlie sees his opportunity to "move her mountains" and gets straight to work. Shelley Hampton delivers the naive Polly at first with timidity, but she soon comes out of her shell.
Reviewed by Paul Rodda
The Weekend Notes
Galleon's SA Premiere of 'Moving Mountains' is a must-see
On Thursday night, 9 May 2019, we attended Galleon Theatre Group's opening night and SA premiere of American screenwriter-playwright Lawrence Roman's play Moving Mountains at Marion Cultural Centre's Domain Theatre. Galleon Theatre Group's adaptation of this lesser-known play is pure genius - with returning director Erik Strauts at the helm, this production is fun and flawless!
See the full review
Reviewed by Jenny Pickett
Theatre Association of SA (TASA) Review
Galleon Theatre Group's current production, set in a retirement village, is a cracker. It is one of the best of several excellent productions I have seen from this group in recent times.
The central protagonist Charlie Fuller, (Andrew Clark) lives at "Ever Rest retirement village, in Southern California. Not your usual Scrabble playing, Bingo enthusiast or your common -or -garden retiree is he. Charlie spends his days "entertaining" that section of the village, "mature ladies" who have lived alone and are lonely, maybe downtrodden. Charlie convinces each of his lady callers that they have no need to be lonely and in fact his philosophy encourages them to do things or become something that she is not. Galleon's production directed by Erik Strauts of "Moving Mountains" by U.S. playwright Lawrence Roman is a very funny comedy that not only provides Charlie with delightful companionship but gives credence to the currently held philosophies that such physical and social activities help to increase pleasant longevity. Charlie's ladies come to believe that such activities could "move mountains" to overcome some of life's hurdles.
Brittany Daw's first -rate, realistic set on the awkward, narrow Domain stage is finely detailed to enhance Charlie's assignations.
Erik Strauts has marshalled his superlative cast into a finely tuned ensemble, which is a triumph for him in cleverly eliciting the major theme of "moving mountains"
There were no weak links in the performances and the American accents (which often grate in Australian ears) were very nearly faultless.
This critic has not often seen Andrew Clark in better form (excluding Lady Bracknell). Lindy Le Cornu was a delight as Charlie's cuddly Thursday's girl, Gwen, The colourful one liners of Kathy Strauts (Harriet) were as funny as her cheeky revealed costume, and Josh Van't Padje(Robert) was prepared to defraud the Tax Department in order to claim a liaison with Charlie's married daughter Elaine( Sharon Pitardi). Adrian Heness was impressive as Polly's "nephew" Marc who moved a few mountains after his tete- a -tete with Charlie. Charlie's love for Polly becomes apparent but Polly (Shelley Hampton) does not respond to Charlie's passion in the way he was hoping she would.
As Charlie's daughter Elaine, Sharon Pitardi is the standout. She looks a million dollars in designer clothes and is initially unaware of her father's motives and behaviour. She plays the role snobbishly, stylishly and with superb timing and great humour. She deflects her would- be lover Robert with absent- minded dexterity, producing a performance of enormous skill and charm.
This production is a triumph for Erik Strauts, his cast and crew and most importantly for The Galleon Theatre Group.
Reviewed by Richard Lane
