The Ball's Up by Marya Glyn-Daniel. The Players Company directed by Jasan Savage. UCU Theatre, The Hub, University of Canberra Feb 7, 8, 14, 15 12.40pm and 5.40pm; matinee Sat Feb 10 2pm.
"We're never going to be an experimental theatre," says Marya Glyn-Daniel. Her slightly zany one-acter proves the point, being highly reminiscent of Alan Ayckbourn's style, but it's a neat script which caricatures the management of book publishing.
Alex Aspillera of Echidna Books, for which read Little Antarctic Birds Books with its office in Ringwood, Melbourne, plans the launch of "Football in the Seventies" while her immediate boss J.T. is having a spiritual experience somewhere in the hills behind Ubud (in Bali in case you didn't know...) He assumes the game between the ageing 70's stars (Jazza, Gazza etc.) and football journalists, especially with a Scotch (rather than champagne) breakfast will be a balls up - and even Alex is prepared to clear her desk the morning after ten legless players are carted off to hospital.
In fact, of course, any publicity on three TV channels is good publicity. The book takes off and Alex's job is saved, while J.T. is suitably humiliated. Quite a lot to pack into 40 minutes on stage - and the Players do it with considerable panache.
Kim-Hurst-Meyers' Alex has a quick knowing wit which is the core of a successful character. Danielle McGettrick plays a wonderful brainless Suzy the Temp - but it's her brother who saves the day. Simon Troeth as J.T. needs more light and shade in his character: it's hard to imagine how he ever got his job otherwise - but maybe that's the key to his caricature. Chris Clarke's brief appearance as Gazza was a gem - a part that might have been developed in a longer play.
Designer and director Jasan Savage had a clear vision of the right style for this play on this tiny stage, so it will be interesting to see his next production: a very different Diary of Anne Frank in April/May.
A gaggle of ex-70's ex-Melbourne female footy fans in the foyer were very excited by memories of Jazza etc., and extracted from Marya news of a full-length play, still at the storyboard stage, for 2002.
© Frank McKone, Canberra
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