Reviews
Adelaide Theatre Guide Review
Christmas is time for a big family gathering, including extended family not seen all that often and usually one or two 'strays' who are welcomed into the fold. There is lots of food and drinking and the opportunity for the outspoken to have their say, regardless of who is listening.
Belinda and Neville are the hosts. Mari Nield plays Belinda with understanding and an excellent sense of comedy, constantly frustrated by the hapless Neville, who is constantly disappearing to 'fix' something. Scott Battersby captures the character well. Enter the guests - Uncle Harvey, a retired security guard, played brilliantly by Lindsay Dunn. His portrayal of the character captures the pathos as well as the comedy.
There is Rachel, Belinda's unmarried sister, who has invited Clive, a writer, to join the frivolity. Maxine Grubel plays Rachel sympathetically and with the required understatement while Simon Lancione reveals excellent comic timing in the chaos of the finale.
Adrian Henness plays Neville's friend Eddie with understanding, finding an escape from the general chaos and his pregnant wife, Pattie, by joining Neville in fixing objects in an attempt to avoid Pattie.
Charlotte Batty as the nagging Pattie delivers another commanding performance in this role. Joanne St Clair as Phyllis, Neville's sister, has a difficult role as her character is not pivotal to the plot. However, she has created a believable and empathic character as Bernard's wife. Bernard is a doctor whose annual puppet shows for the children - whom we never actually meet - have to be attended by all. There is the traditional 'preview' which the adults have to 'suffer' and assist with. Brian Godfrey is wonderful as Bernard and the 'puppet show' is one of the funniest pieces of theatre I have seen.
This leads to Kym Clayton's superb direction. With the diversity of characters and the chaos of action, including the final scene, there is so much opportunity for uncontrolled disaster with the actors having a lot of fun while leaving the audience trying to work it all out. Alan Ayckbourne has supplied some wonderful characters involved in somewhat unbelievable situations which have been brought to life by talented actors and an excellent director. Do not miss the opportunity to see this one.
*Brian Godfrey is a member of the ATG team.
Reviewed by Janice Bailey
Broadway World Review
Reviewed by Barry Lenny, Friday 3rd November 2017.
Galleon's final production for the year is an Alan Ayckbourn's 1980 comedy, Season's Greetings, directed by Kym Clayton. Clayton has assembled a great cast, including some regular Galleon favourites, and created a well-paced production that keeps the laughs coming from start to finish.
Belinda and Neville have invited the entire family and a few friends over for Christmas. If you have ever seen anything by Ayckbourn then you will not need to be told that it is a highly dysfunctional family, and that anything that can go wrong, will go wrong, with enormous hilarity.
Scott Battersby and Mari Nield play Neville and Belinda. Neville is interested in anything, other than his wife, and loves to tinker in his shed, taking great interest in his remote control for the Christmas tree, lights, and music, and in repairing a broken toy, while she tries to hold everything together over the few days against all odds. Battersby pulls in the laughs as Neville, trying to avoid anything to do with the Christmas celebrations, and any of the guests, other than Eddie, and Nield keeps us laughing at Belinda's oft thwarted efforts to keep things on track and dampen any conflicts.
Phyllis, played by Joanne St Clair, is permanently tipsy, and makes a mess of the kitchen and the food, while her incompetent doctor husband, Bernard, whose sole focus is his overly complex annual puppet show, the bane of everybody else's Christmas, is played by Brian Godfrey. St Clair convincingly portrays her character as heading well on the way to being inebriated, without resorting to caricature, and Godfrey is very funny as a man who is a failure at everything, clinging to his mistaken belief that his puppets shows are loved by all, his ultimate failure. The 'business' of his rehearsal of the show is an hilarious disaster, although his shaky dialogue could use some tightening.
Lindsay Dunn plays Uncle Harvey, the paranoid ex-security guard, television addict, and grumpy old man who is descending into madness. If Harvey didn't get jailed or sectioned soon after the events of this play I, for one, would be very surprised. Dunn neatly carries off the difficult trick of playing a thoroughly unpleasant character and still making him laughable.
Eddie, a friend of Neville who shares his passion for tinkering, and his wife, Pattie, are the imminently expectant parents, played by Adrian Heness and Charlotte Batty. Heness provides plenty of laughs in his efforts to avoid anything to do with the fact that his wife is about to have a baby, and Batty doubles the laughs in her attempts to engage him on anything to do with their relationship.
Simon Lancione plays the writer, Clive, who has been invited as he is the close friend of Rachel, Belinda's spinster sister, played by Maxine Grubel. Missing one another in transit, he arrives while she is going to the station to collect him and he is admitted by Belinda, resulting in lust at first sight. Lancione draws on all of the humorous situations and misunderstandings to ensure that he gets his full share of the laughter.
Clayton's multi-room set is cleverly created using walls only a single brick in height to form the various rooms, relying on the cast and the audience to imagine them as solid, with assistance from the lighting design. This is another fun show from Galleon that will please audiences and, don't forget, you can take a supper with you and purchase drinks from the canteen/bar.
Reviewed by Barry Lenny
GLAM Adelaide Review
Alan Ayckbourn is an always reliable choice for a community theatre group, writing, as he does, gently comedic observations of human relationships, family and social conventions.
Season's Greetings, a work from 1980 is no exception. In a middle-class house in England, a family gathers for four days of Christmas festivities, which rapidly disintegrate into attempted adultery, attempted murder and attempted puppetry!
Director Kym Clayton has gathered a stellar cast for this production, and has given them enough, solid direction, yet allowed these experienced actors to play. The resulting ensemble work speaks volumes for this intelligent approach.
The almost compulsory Brian Godfrey is perfectly cast as the bumbling Bernard and his puppet-show scene is one of the highlights of the show. He just needs to tighten the delivery of some of his lines. Joanne St Clair as his wife Phyllis more than holds her own, with her skills shining through in a very realistic portrayal of "tipsy". Mari Nield and Scott Battersby play off each other superbly as bickering couple Belinda and Neville. Battersby is particularly adept at the throwaway line. Lindsay Dunn gives full throttle to the pugilistic Harvey, showing some moments of comedic brilliance. Adrian Heness and Charlotte Batty as Eddie and Pattie deliver both comedy and pathos in their roles. Maxine Grubel is, as always, a strong presence on stage as Rachel, and Simon Lancione puts in a fine night's work as Clive.
There is some difficult timing in this piece, with many, over-lapping conversations. For the most part, the cast do incredibly well with this, but it could be tightened in places.
Clayton has not only directed a terrific production, but also designed the set, which works exceedingly well and is pleasing to the eye.
This is a truly enjoyable night in the theatre: very, very funny, touching in parts, and delivered by a cast which never lets up the pace. And many of the audience members on opening night recognized their own family Christmas in the mayhem on stage!
Reviewed by Tracey Korsten
Stage Whispers Review
The lead-up to Christmas is a time of mixed feelings. Depending on one's circumstances, a blend of delight and dread can be the prevailing mood.
Frequently the dread relates in no small part to the fact that people thrown together for the Festive season and fuelled by alcohol can rub each other up the wrong way, with explosive results. This is certainly the case at the home of Belinda and Neville in Alan Ayckbourn's comedy Season's Greetings, as family and friends gather for Christmas. The play is currently finalising its Galleon Theatre Group run at the Domain Theatre.
A minor mixup in reviewer schedules meant I went along to review the play rather later than would normally be the case but it was an interesting change in that I got to see the actors after they'd had time to fully develop their characters.
Brian Godfrey is a standout as the bumbling uncle, Bernard, who clearly must be preparing all year for his boring and dreaded annual Christmas puppet show. An excellent performance by this experienced actor. Lindsay Dunn is very fine and highly amusing in his spot-on portrayal of Harvey, who is obsessed with guns and security.
Mari Nield is very good as hostess Belinda, although her performance is occasionally marred by shrillness when her character is angry or excited. Scott Battersby plays electronics-obsessed host Neville in an understated and controlled performance.
Adrian Heness gives Eddie an enigmatic quality, with hints of a probably abusive husband below the surface, or at the very least, an unhappy and hapless man totally out of touch with his wife's needs. Charlotte Batty is very convincing as Eddie's tired and disenchanted pregnant wife Pattie while Joanne St Clair is very funny as drunken Phyllis, wife of Bernard.
Maxine Grubel gives a sensitive and frequently poignant performance as Belinda's sister Rachel. Simon Lancione also does well in the difficult role of Clive, who has no family connections.
Pace is excellent, particularly in the first half of the show and director Kym Clayton makes creative use of the wide stage.
Set design, all technical aspects, costumes and makeup/hair help the actors create very believable characters and we feel as if we are watching real people, though some not particularly nice, who have personalities full of human flaws as in real life.
Season's Greetings is not an easy play to produce and some may find it disquieting to watch, as many of its characters are not people you'd particularly want to spend time with.
It's as certain as Boxing Day follows Christmas Night that some of us will have a Festive Season that comes uncomfortably close to Ayckbourn's play.
Season's Greetings is a successful conclusion to Galleon Theatre Group's 2017 season, heralding a busy year ahead in 2018 for the company's 50th anniversary.
Reviewed by Lesley Reed
Theatre Association of SA (TASA) Review
Nothing is more entertaining than a farce that is done well. Director Kym Clayton demonstrates that he knows the genre, with his wonderful casting and tight direction. An English tale that was written in 1980 by esteemed playwright Alan Ayckbourn has all the absurdity and character quirks; add the Christmas season in the mix and we find ourselves witness to the dysfunction that family gatherings seems to highlight.
A sex-starved housewife, a virginal spinster, a puppeteer, a neurotic drunk, a couple of neglectful husbands, a visiting novelist and a pessimistic bigot make up this family of misfits. What could possibly go wrong? The text provides us with many laughs, but addresses the insecurities of the characters.
The practical set allows for the divide between rooms without masking any of the action. The scenery is festive with tinsel wrapped around the staircase and a large Christmas tree in the sitting room. Holiday music, dancing reindeer and merry music aid the cheery vibe.
The talented cast did a fine job in bringing the neurosis out in their characters. Mari Nield as housewife Belinda did well to hold it together, her desire for house guest Clive played well by Simon Lancione, was evident. Lindsay Dunn is exceptional as the patriarch of the family. His obsession with weapons and any kind of discord is a lovely contrast to the jovial setting. Dunn's unique timing and cutting dialogue was cause for many laughs.
Bernard is brought to life by Brian Godfrey. His delivery highlights his insecurity as a doctor and a would-be puppeteer. The puppet show rehearsal in act two is a highlight and will have you doubled-over with laughter. Rounding out the cast is Joanne St Clair as clumsy Phyllis, Maxine Grubel as Rachel, Charlotte Batty as Pattie and gadget loving husbands, Scott Battersby as Neville and Adrian Heness as Eddie. Each demonstrated wonderful comic timing with their portrayals.
This production is a lovely escape or reminder of our own impending family gatherings. Although the play seems to end abruptly, you in no way feel short-changed. Galleon have once again produced an enjoyable night at the theatre.
Reviewed by Kerry Cooper
The Weekender Herald Review
"Seasons Greetings", Galleon Theatre's latest production of an early Alan Ayckbourn comedy is an absolute triumph!
Admirably directed by Kym Clayton who has chosen well, this Christmas gathering of squabbling family and guests owes much to some outstanding performances. In particular, Mari Nield, as the frazzled, highly-strung hostess, and the gloriously alcoholic expressions of Joanne St Clair sweep all before them.
However, Scott Battersby, Charlotte Batty, Lindsay Dunn, Brian Godfrey, Maxine Grubel, Adrian Heness, and Simon Lancione also contribute finely honed characters towards this superb ensemble piece. This as the 90 minutes first act passes effortlessly.
Then, mayhem ensues around a love match on the carpet that quickly ends when a device somehow activates loud music, plus Brian Godfrey's hilarious puppet show that goes disastrously wrong.
Mention must also be made of Lindsay Dunn's considerable skill of falling asleep mid scene.... DELIBERATELY!
All this amid impressive conquering of a challengingly wide stage!
Very highly recommended!
Marion Cultural Centre until Saturday November 11th.
Reviewed by John Ovenden
