Who:
Myall Coast Entertainers Inc.
What:
A play by Peter Coke- production by
arrangement with Hal Leonard Pty Ltd on behalf of Josef Weinberger Ltd, London
Where:
Hawks Nest Community Centre
When:
October the 15th- 18th
Cost:
$15
Myall Coast Entertainers delighted audiences
with their production of the play ‘The Taxpayer’s Waltz’. It tells the comical
story of two sisters who invent a fellow named Guy Thompson to suit their own
purposes. One, a writer, is all for it, giving this Mr Thompson multiple wives
and children, perpetually putting him “upstairs with a fever” and deviously acting
as his “personal secretary”. The other is the (always ignored) voice of reason
who reminds her sister of the pitfalls of lies and tax evasion.
Done in three acts, the play took a while to
gain momentum. The first act more or less consisted of two people pacing to and
fro and dialoguing across the stage- “setting the scene”, as I was later told.
The second saw the play come to life as a whole new batch of characters
entered, evidently summoned (to the astonishment of the sisters) by this invented
bloke himself. In the third act the pair felt that he had become too
controlling of their lives and so decided to “kill him off”, discussing and
planning how best to do so.
Beyond the central characters who were
convincingly carried out, there were others who stood out also. There was the
lady in Act Two who played ‘Maureen’. Believing herself to be Mr Thompson’s
wife, her portrayal was really brought to life with her wildly colourful attire
and spirited Cockney accent. In Act Three we met Ms Timwell, the risqué and
cheeky tax collector. With striking legs, bright blonde hair and a lively
disposition, she immediately captured the viewer’s attention. And throughout
the show the chap in the purple shirt often kept the sisters on edge, always
seeming on the cusp of discovering the truth.
There were shortcomings…but then, what home
grown theatre production doesn’t have them? The prompt lady down the front was
kept busy all night, often slipping in phrases just as the actor began to
stumble. And at one point the pair on stage seemed to have forgotten their
lines entirely, but they so fluidly maintained their composure that the mishap
merely seemed to be part of the script!
It’s always a pleasure to see this group in
action. Their hard work and enthusiasm was clearly evident in their delivery,
and seeing locals flexing their theatre muscles usually guarantees a great
night out with plenty of laughter. So cheers, Myall Coast Entertainers- I look
forward to next year’s production!
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