tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7200658218238769688.post4289148228721792963..comments2024-01-20T16:46:43.636+11:00Comments on Kevin Jackson's Theatre Diary: PostnuptialsGeorge Khuthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10220918958933755405noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7200658218238769688.post-87735685316370250932013-02-21T11:25:16.369+11:002013-02-21T11:25:16.369+11:00Thank you Kevin
The character Gloria Haney states...<br />Thank you Kevin<br /><br />The character Gloria Haney states clearly that ..."He is our son, we should love him no matter." I fail to see how that could be made clearer. Lillian also states... "I can't change the way I was raised' <br /><br />And of the stylised set and costumes, no mention.<br />You end a paragraph in an exclamatory fashion stating that the director is also the set and costume designer. The stylized set has a thematic colour scheme in red, black and white, complete with an Italian red leather L shaped lounge, a ghost chair, and two original Australian art works. The costumes are in keeping with the thematic scheme, the men stylish in black and white diner suits and Lillian’s gown is ablaze with Swarovski crystals enough to blind, however you choose not to engage in any discourse on the set nor the costumes.<br /><br />Michael HarrsAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04011397100108089718noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7200658218238769688.post-16498971154509900622013-02-20T18:29:02.804+11:002013-02-20T18:29:02.804+11:00Dear Michael,
I am in sympathy with all of the ide... Dear Michael,<br />I am in sympathy with all of the ideas that you feel this play embraces.That those ideas do not arrive as clearly as your note to me makes them in the performance might make the production at fault (or I?) I have empathy too for the real life struggles of many of the gay community and are impatient, like you, with the rest of society in its attitudes and responses to that minority.<br />What I am talking about is the lack of success of both the writer and this particular production in bringing that sufficiently to the fore on the stage in the theatre.<br />The aspiration of anotherbrightidea is that of 'angels', undoubtedly, and one does not set out to create 'bad' work, but the result, in my experience, in the Parade Playhouse last week,fell far short of delivering on all of those. <br />You and your company can estimate from the experience of the rehearsals and production whether you have the performance you set out to give us.<br />I feel, as well, that I am not the only member of the audience, at my visit, that was disappointed. I hope you and your company are not. The effort to create at all is enormous but unpredictable in its outcomes. One can only honestly work as best as possible to achieve it. <br />My response was my honest response never setting out to be mean but, honest.Kevin Jacksonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7200658218238769688.post-65779111466785492342013-02-20T15:55:12.563+11:002013-02-20T15:55:12.563+11:00An uneven review Kevin, at times mean…
You begin ...An uneven review Kevin, at times mean… <br />You begin by saying that the play reminds you of an old fashioned situation comedy trying to please too many people, what are you saying exactly? It is a conundrum that you offer no answer to? Old or new! Lucille Ball or Modern Family! Since when has it become necessary to challenge a piece because it may have wide appeal. Many theatre goers prefer to advance their own ideas through a comedic piece as opposed to being lectured and assaulted into reflecting upon their personal beliefs.<br />You make a point that none of the cast are in the same play, yet two of the actors you give credit to, Sam O’Sullivan and Tallay Wickham are both in the garage scene in Act 2 Sc. 2… therefore I guess that scene in the play works for you. To say an actor gives more creativity than the play deserves is as preposterous, as a director saying to me, I could not be given a credit for a play I had performed in at the New Theatre as it was an amateur production. Since when does an actor temper their performance according to the stage they are on?<br /> The play is a contemporary farce and the thematic concerns are to be found there amongst the froth and bubble of the comedy… for those who care to observe and reflect upon them. Not all forms of theatre pursue issues in a profound way with hours of esoteric dialogue, after all this is not Maxim Gorky. <br />Eileen Hudson’s character Gloria Haney is perhaps the most empathic character in Postnuptial’s, declaring he love for her son Kevin, despite accusations by others that he is gay. Only yesterday I saw an article about Senator Christine Milne supporting her son and deciding to march along side of him in the Mardi Gras parade. God knows how many stories we have heard of GLTG people being ostracized by family and the distress it may cause, let-a-lone those who have taken their own lives. Lillian Andrews is unable to shake off the shackles of her upbringing and find her own values in life, which ultimately is the cause of her marriage to end, despite her husband Kevin professing to her that he will…”wait a week, a month, a year, whatever it takes!” I see no attempt for you to give any credence to these important issues explored in the play. <br />You end a paragraph in an exclamatory fashion stating that the director is also the set and costume designer. The stylized set has a thematic colour scheme in red, black and white, complete with an Italian red leather L shaped lounge, a ghost chair, and two original Australian art works. The costumes are in keeping with the thematic scheme, the men stylish in black and white diner suits and Lillian’s gown is ablaze with Swarovski crystals enough to blind, however you choose not to engage in any discourse on the set nor the costumes.<br />As a NIDA graduate, an actor and a drama teacher in the Australian profession, I fail to see why it is necessary for you to be scathing about a production, when you ignore areas of Postnuptial’s and your tone is unnecessarily derogatory. It is unfortunate that you fail to observe any of the writer’s concerns in the play nor reflect upon them, preferring to label Postnuptial’s as “…a bad, bad play!”... A term better suited to a naughty child or a little pig in a nursery rhyme! <br />Ultimately David Earle is speaking of unconditional love. Not your cup of char! Well Kevin, many human beings in our society today are in their own small way trying to come to terms with this area of life that so often eludes us. <br />Uneven, self serving and at times mean! By the way the play I mentioned at the New Theatre was Queen Christina which you directed, and I have very fond memories of!!<br /><br />Michael Harrs<br />Director, Costume and Set designer<br /> <br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04011397100108089718noreply@blogger.com