Sex and the once-single $hopper

Sex is involved in all sorts of matters, so why not in saving the economy? The Reluctant $hopper is a lighthearted comedy by local playwright Bruce Hoogendoom. It was Bruce who took tickets at the entrance and his parents who served us at the bar so this seemed particularly local, but Bruce has had his plays performed around Australia and as far away as Helsinki. This play was a comedy: light, somewhat frothy and short. There were four cast and three central characters. Barry works for a local Business Council. There’s another financial crisis and the government is too indebted to support the economy, so he blackmails Sam, a very tight public servant, after-hours DVD salesman – and millionaire inheritor – with threats of denunciation to the Tax Department. Sam has to spend $100K in the local shops. Suffice to say, Sam does not find this easy or pleasant but the alternative is fines and gaol. At one shop (a deliciously unnecessary gift shop), they spy the very attractive shopaholic Lisa. Her credit is maxed out, so Sam helps out and soon Sam and Lisa are an article. Barry decides he’s done wrong, that PA shopper Lisa is just after Sam’s money, but loves conquers all, Sam learns to enjoy shopping (and ignores his depleting bank account), Lisa recognises her problem, Barry adjusts himself to his reality, and everyone’s happy in the end. Why not a comedy about economics? After hearing just recently about fraudulent Irish bankers and LIBOR, we need a few laughs. And we might need Barry’s techniques soon enough.

The Reluctant $hopper by Bruce Hoogendoom (playwright, director, producer) was presented at the Courtyard Studio. The cast was Brendan Kelly (Sam), Elaine Noon (Katrina, Debbie, shop assistant), Kimberley Balaga (Lisa) and Rob de Fries (Barry). Kelly McGannon (lights) and Miriam Miley-Read (costumes) assisted offstage.

Amongst the bushes

Speaking in tongues is the theatrical show that became the film Lantana. Much to the disappointment of my wife, I’m not a great film-lover, but I was mightily impressed by Lantana when I saw it. For once, this was an Australian film with a decent script, set in modern Australia, with an intriguing and adult-oriented plot and that wasn’t merely visual.

A play has to be presented differently from a film. This was. It’s a complex plot, with scenes happening in various locations and ongoing unexpected crossings of path by the various couples making up the cast. The first part shows us two couples working through the outcome of one consummated and another unconsummated liaison. It’s cleverly portrayed with unison speeches that highlight predicaments in modern marriage. One couple works it out, the other’s less successful, and paths variously cross when couples negotiate and male and female partners meet in different bars and clubs. The second half sees three more couples: one broken relationship with a pining male and non-committing female; one pained with a wife damaged by a history of child abuse and who then goes missing; the husband of another relationship who is questioned for the murder of the woman who’s disappeared. It’s complex and convoluted and thematically rich. It plays with your expectations and presumptions and leaves topical matters undecided. It even leaves the ultimate resolution undecided, although by implication the plot resolution is clear. The core theme was trust in marriage but there’s more: how people love, how they communicate, rekindling passion, giving emotional support. It’s also noticable that all parties were essentially good-willed despite the affairs. And that they were muddling through, although often not a textbook fashion. It’s a plot of tortuous interactions that explores themes by action and dialogue rather than overt discussion, and I’m still mulling over that title. I also imagine it’s a play for mature audiences with years of marriage under their belts. That’s not to say younger audiences won’t understand it, but I doubt they would feel it quite the same way. A stimulating play and well pesented by Canberra Rep, our local amateur theatre society that is now in its 80th year! Congratulations and best wishes to our august theatre company.

Speaking is tongues was directed by Ross McGregor and featured Rob de Fries (Leon), Helen McFarlane (Sonja), Duncan Ley (Pete), Lainie Hart (Jane), Bridgette Black (Valerie), Eliza Bell (Sarah), Sam Hannan-Morrow (Nic), Raoul Craemer (Neil) and Zach Raffan (John).