It's All Greek To Me Too! at Old Mill Theatre

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Posted 2016-01-18 by groover ⇒ follow

Fri 12 Feb 2016 - Sat 27 Feb 2016

Following the smash hit comedy It's All Greek To Me at the Old Mill Theatre in 2014, Perth playwright Noel O'Neill has penned a sequel for even greater hilarity-matched-with-disaster.

The Planks, a Greek-English family living in '60s London, return in It's All Greek To Me Too! with family patriarch Nicky finding himself in all sorts of bother. After becoming matchmaker for his former girlfriend Circe and cousin Stavros, the couple went off to live in Greece – but, after a few months, Nicky soon learns the marriage is a disaster.

Circe is completely disappointed by the domestic conditions in Greece with no hot water, no TV and a house occupied by a goat and chicken, so she returns to London and puts a curse on Nicky. With Christmas coming, little money coming in, a pregnant daughter, a son about to get engaged, a suicidal wife, a crooked seer and an eye on the girls in his life, Nicky must find a way to get the curse lifted.

Noel, who co-directs the show with Valerie Dragojevic (also on stage as Jenna), said the sequel was simply a result of the fun experienced by the cast and crew during the original It's All Greek To Me. "They literally asked me to write the sequel so we could all work together again and I just felt there could always be more," he said.

"The hardest thing to write is comedy and to keep it fresh – writing drama is so much easier because everyone gets to say great dramatic speeches they never get to say in real life. But comedy is different because the responsibility to make it funny is greater and I want the audience and cast alike to appreciate the humour and enjoy it."

Involved in theatre for more than three decades, Noel is currently a lecturer at the WA Academy of Performing Arts and has received a plethora of awards over the years for writing, directing and acting. It's All Greek To Me was no exception, picking up Milly Awards for best production, best director, best actor, best supporting actor and outstanding comedy performance, as well as two Finley Award nominations.

Despite It's All Greek To Me Too! being a sequel, Noel said prior knowledge of the first play isn't required. "The character Nicky speaks to the audience throughout the play so the audience will pick up where the last play left off," he said. "But this play also stands up by itself."

Kim Taylor plays Nicky Plank. "He is a philandering man of Greek heritage who is very superstitious but believes he is true to himself and his base needs," he said. "But underneath all of this, he really loves his family and his friends. Nicky Plank is basically kind of heart but, with all the best intentions, gets himself into some awkward but hilarious situations – he hasn't changed a drop from the original play.

"The original It's All Greek To Me was so well-received that we had to extend the season to allow Old Mill Theatre patrons to see show. I couldn't pass up the opportunity of doing another show featuring Nicky Plank because of the amount of fun we had rehearsing the production and doing the shows last time.

"My fellow actors became close-knit family members who you rely upon to do their part. It's great to be a part of a production like this – it's the main reason I do it."

It's All Greek To Me Too! plays at 8pm February 12, 13, 18, 19, 20, 26, 26 and 27 with a 2pm matinee February 14 and 3pm matinee February 21. Tickets are $25, $20 concession – book at http://oldmilltheatre.com.au/tickets or on 9367 8719.

All proceeds from the 3pm matinee on February 21 will be going to the South West Bushfire Appeal. A donation box will also be on hand for people wishing to donate more to the appeal.

The heritage-listed Old Mill Theatre is on the corner of Mends Street and Mill Point Road, South Perth (opposite the Windsor Hotel and Australia Post).