Away – November 2015

clickable

clickable“AWAY” by Michael Gow

Torquay Theatre Troupe takes great pleasure in bringing to the stage the iconic and much loved Australian play, “Away” written by Michael Gow and directed by the extremely talented Stacey Carmichael.

Away tells the story of three internally conflicted families escaping ‘life’ holidaying by the sea for Christmas, 1967. The characters are immediately recognisable and grounded in reality although the relationships are collapsing under the emotional pressures of grief, children growing up and the major social changes of the time. In Away we see a much older Australia moving towards a new identity and new ideals. Set against the backdrop of the Vietnam War, Away is a nostalgic look at Australians separated by diversity and drawn together by conflict.
Away is inspiring; a funny, painful, yet truthful play about the journeys that bring us home to ourselves.
The cast includes well known members of the Troupe and welcomes 11 new members including five young actors honing their skills. Do not miss this very special event.

DATES:

  • open on Thursday 12th November and will run
  • Friday 13th
  • Saturday 14th and
  • Sunday (Matinee) 15th
  • Friday 20th
  • Saturday 21st and
  • Sunday 22nd (matinee) November and
  • Thursday 26th
  • Friday 27th and
  • Saturday 28th November.

Evening performances 8.00pm (doors open at 7.30pm) matinees at 2.00 pm on Sunday 15th & 22nd.

TICKETS:

Tickets can be purchased at the Visitors Information Centre Torquay: $20 Adults, $17 Concession. $1 Booking Fee.
Phone: 5261 4219

LOCATION:

16 Price Street, Torquay, Australia.

Director: Stacey Carmichael
Assistant Director: Simon Thorne
Producer: Zina Carman

Stage Manager: Fred Preston

CAST:

Tom …………………………………….. RYAN TRACEY
Vic ……………………………………….. MANDY CALDERWOOD
Harry …………………………………… GLENN BARTON

Meg – shared between ……………. TARA DUNSTAN/ JESS SENFTLEBEN

Gwen ……………………………………. LISA BERRY
Jim ………………………………………. MICHAEL BAKER

Roy  ……………………………………… STUART ERREY
Coral  ……………………………………. MARYANNE DOOLAN

Rick/ Ensemble: ……………..…….. SEAN SEXTON
MC: …..…………………………………. FRED PRESTON
Leonie / Ensemble: ……………….. MELISSA WARREN
Miss Latrobe/ Ensemble: ……..… REBECCA MORGAN
Student / Ensemble: ………………  GRACE MALLINSON

Away-boy-girls

 

 

 

 

 

 

Review from Entertainment Geelong – November 12

Away, directed by Stacey Carmichael for Torquay Theatre Troupe, Price St Theatre, November 12, 2015

Michael Gow wrote Away in the 1980s and set it in politically-charged 1960s Australia. Only he didn’t place it anywhere near the scenes of protest, and the Vietnam conflict got only passing references in what appears on the surface to be a 60s-nostalgia small community social drama.
But from today’s 21st Century perspective, this Away comes to present much more. Inside that social drama, it’s a study into the personal effects of tragedy and what was then a total lack of understanding of what is now recognised as overwhelming grief and post traumatic stress disorders.
Gow’s script incorporates these without naming them, while director Stacey Carmichael’s sensitive treatment neatly teases them out inside what shows as a simple domestic drama based on three family’s summer holidays Away.
This Torquay treatment of Away was groundbreaking on several levels.
It was staged amid its audience using the minimum of props, most of which were carried on to a clean, blank, open stage by the actors themselves. Indeed, frequently, other costumed actors became the props, standing static and silent to create instant scenery. And each scene was neatly linked by correct-era music from a live singer/guitarist standing just off-stage.
On stage we saw a raft of excellent characterisations that shifted the play’s dramatic tensions from wild laughter to hear-a-pin-drop emotion in what was an evening of absorbing, thoughtful theatre.
And we witnessed two exceptionally powerful performances – by Lisa Berry and Maryanne Doolan – as the distressed wives whose families chose different ways to handle their mental conflicts. Maryanne’s husband, cold Stuart Errey’s heavy-handed approach drove her into the orbit of the other families and eventually into a healing climactic environment. She encountered Lisa’s embattled, bewildered and sensitive husband, Michael Baker, and an acquaintant new migrant couple with troubles of their own in Glen Barton and Mandy Calderwood. The families had been brought together by circumstance and the awkward friendship of their teenaged children – a budding liaison beautifully portrayed by highly talented newcomers Ryan Tracey and Jessica Senftleben.
Jessica’s role was doubled by Tara Dunstan, who on opening night played one of the excellent support ensemble – along with Sean Sexton, Melissa Warren, Grace Mallinson, Rebecca Morgan and Fred Preston.
The exceptional standard of acting throughout this Away has garnered a swag of Virtual Oscar nominations, along with the play’s director and that exceptional live musical linking.
So please go see this Away – it’s a really thoughtful Australian play from a dedicated, highly talented company.
And that makes for simply excellent theatre.
– Colin Mockett

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