Hating Alison Ashley by Richard Tulloch from the novel by Robin Klein. Child Players ACT at The Street Theatre Studio, January 15-17 2pm and 7.30pm. Bookings: 6247 1223 or www.thestreet.org.au
Newcomer to Year 9, Alison Ashley (Josie Dunham), comes from the other side of the tracks (the upper side, that is). But the play is not focussed on her, with a waspish divorced mother who "rests" during the day and runs a fashionable restaurant at night, and has absolutely no interest in her daughter's personal well-being.
Of central interest is Erika Yurken (Joanna Richards) "Yurk" to her siblings and "Yuk" to her classmates as she learns how jealousy turns to unjustifiable hate. Realisation dawns as her own waitress Mum (Robyn Page), long separated from Erika's errant father, and reliable truck driver, Lennie (Brian Daly) seek her approval of their engagement to be married.
Comedy, which you might not expect when dealing with such issues, demands style and timing. Director Brandon Girvan and his whole cast have understood the requirements very well. The result is a great team effort which even 38 degrees at the 2pm opening performance could not diminish. In a cast of 16 actors, no-one put a foot wrong.
Jo Howard, who designed and made the stage set and also did the media and photographic work for the production, deserves special mention because the visual aspect of the show is crucial to creating the atmosphere of the school, the domestic settings and the annual excursion to Camp Desolation somewhere around 1984 (when the novel was written), while still having the right feel for 15-year-olds today.
Dunham's and Richards' acting performances held the play together, as they should because the script is written this way, and because they complemented each other in creating the moments of light and shade the comedy needs. The three teachers - Jo Burns (Nigella Belmont, always in control), Katy Ryan (the fey but effective drama teacher Elsa Lattimore), Jeffrey Van de Zandt (Geoff Kennard who puts "the phys into physical education") were neatly satirical representations of people I have known, as were the student characters Barry (Daniel Mills), Margeart (Olivia English), Diana (Chelsea Needham), Crystal (Maddie Sloan), Oscar (Nicky Anyos) and Craig (Jarron Dodds).
Erika's almost D-Generation siblings Harley (Lachlan Ruffy), Valjoy (Katie Murphy) and Jedda (Tayla Page), so well parented by Mum and Lennie, top off the comedy and make this an original and enjoyable production for teenagers and even oldagers like me.
©Frank McKone, Canberra
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