08 Dec
ELS NEWS : Dec 08
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KING of the West End –Adelaide Feast Festival –Nov. 28-29 2008
What a delicious romp ‘KING OF THE WEST END’ was and a revealing snapshot of Adelaide’s past – a gay tale of love and multiple layers of betrayal with some discernable parallels with the more familiar Dunstan-Ceruto scenario some decades later.
Tightly scripted by Ian Purcell and with a musical score by Luke Ashby and Christian Paterson tailor-made for a rollicking but cerebrally enriching melodrama, it was a kaleidescopic snap-shot of Adelaide society of the 1930’s.The topic was obviously well researched, albeit with minor inconsistencies – the ‘East End’ London accent scripted for Jack ( which he performed so admirably and which did, nonetheless – set the emotional tone with precision)- the use of the word ‘wanker’ and the portrayal of Lady Bonython was not quite to form from sources I have – but overall the essence of the period was so well bottled for this production. In discussion with director Corey Mc Mahon, Phillip Kavanagh
(Jack) and Luke Ashby, the consensus was that the show ‘grew legs’ by Saturday despite a slightly jittery performance on Friday night. As one who witnessed both performances, the showcasing of the production’s potential for something infinitely larger was clearly more evident by Saturday night.
Wayne Stevens slipped into Bert’s shoes more comfortably with his rich voice and confident stride. Singing is not quite his natural talent but the portrayal of the colourful and ambivalent Bert was convincing. Phillip Kavanagh shone brightly both as Jack and narrator – relaying the story from a ‘loser’s view of history’. Flashes of brilliance from Jenn Cole as the do-gooding but meddling matron, Mrs Agnes Knight-Goode and Fabienne Wagner as the vengeful but unfortunate widow, Mrs Briskett, lit up the stage.Generally well cast, although critically under-resourced in some facets according to Corey McMahon, it was entertaining and enlightening revelation of Adelaide’s past.Keep your eyes on the look-out for future versions and for evolving roles for some of the talented cast.
Dennis Coleman