November 1975: The Whitlam government has just been dismissed by the Governor-General.
Liberal voters feel vindicated and Gough supporters – they’re in kill mode! “More dinner parties ended in uproar over that one than about the night the dingo took the baby.” Anna Lall is the first playwright to tackle post Dismissal fallout and how average Australians dealt with it: the debates, bad jokes, lamentations, and sheer bloody-mindedness that split the nation.
Still reeling from the downfall of his beloved Gough, Ron Cheney is in for a very bad night…
• His only son is about to move in with his boyfriend.
• His exasperated wife Isobel is on the verge of a major dummy spit.
• The new neighbours he invites around for supper are fervent Fraser supporters.
Ron and Isobel were real people and to quote their son, whose anecdotes inspired this play: “Their marriage had two speeds – yelling and laughing.” “Impressed by the insights these particular characters afforded… There is buoyancy here as well as understanding.” Chris Mead, Literary Director MTC.
Anna Lall (Playwright) Lall’s plays have been performed around Australia since 1997 and include a sell-out season of How To Love Wombats (Carlton Courthouse), Random Acts, Scuttlebutt, The Infidelity Trilogy (Daylesford Words in Winter) and A Love Story (winner AFC prize at Sydney Short N’ Sweet Festival, now a 15-min film), Love Taps (La Mama season 2014). Highlights include three Wal Cherry nominations, a Noosa Arts Festival prize and Screen Australia grant for the Love Story screenplay. Bruce Langdon (Director) Bruce is a Melbourne indiie theatre scene veteran. As director, he has championed the work of local playrwrights for decades and Anna’s plays have been a recurring theme over those years.
In February 2019 he will take her latest work Ron and Isobel to La Mama’s Courthouse with Justin HarrisParslow and Kelly Nash heading up a superb ensemble cast which also includes Nadia Andary, Taylor Smith-Morvell and Shannon Woollard.
Written by Anna Lall Directed by Bruce Langdon Cast includes Justin Harris-Parslow, Kelly Nash, Nadia Andary, Taylor Smith-Morvell and Shannon Woollard Stage Manager and Operator Maureen White
DATE 13 – 17 February 2019
TIME Wed 6.30pm Thu – Sat 7.30pm Sun 4pm
DURATION Approximately 85 minutes
VENUE La Mama Courthouse 349 Drummond Street, Carlton
TICKETS $30 Adult | $20 Concession
BOOKINGS 03 9347 6948 or www.lamama.com.au
