One For The Road at Limelight Theatre

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Posted 2021-03-17 by groover ⇒ follow

Thu 01 Apr 2021 - Sat 17 Apr 2021

Limelight Theatre is going back to the '80s with its latest production, a comedy from Educating Rita and Shirley Valentine playwright Willy Russell. Directed by James Hough-Neilson, One For The Road finds Dennis on the eve of his 50th birthday making a last-ditch attempt to break away from the confines of his middle-class, housing-estate existence.

Reaching breaking point at his birthday party, he packs a rucksack to make his escape – but everyone else wants to join him and the freedom of the open road. "One for the Road is set in the 1980s in a suburban English bungalow," James said.

"The people living there are first-generation middle class and happy to let everyone know they have come up in the world. They flaunt their new gadgets – which were new in the '80s – and their language and prejudices belong in that era where political correctness was barely heard of. "The first challenge was getting the right four actors and, once I had cast them, the Limelight Theatre machine swung into action with the help and expertise of President Shelley McGinn who is production assistant on the show. Everything is falling into place very nicely."

A professional actor, on and off, for the past 68 years, James has a wealth of experience behind him – and then some. He studied at London Drama School, then spent three years learning and performing a play a week in repertory theatre and appeared in the number one West End play Summer Seasons. Numerous UK television appearances followed, along with radio work and various commercials.

In WA, James has worked with Stirling, Limelight and Playlovers Theatres over the past 26 years, performing in or directing productions such as Breaker Morant, Showboat, The Sound of Music, Phantom of the Opera, My Fair Lady, The Importance of Being Earnest, Jane Eyre, Wuthering Heights and Hobson's Choice. His 2006 production of The Judas Kiss at Playlovers received best director, best play, best costumes and best supporting actor accolades at the annual Finley Awards."I actually directed One For The Road about 15 years ago at Stirling Theatre," James said. "Although dated in some ways, the comedy is inescapable which makes the rehearsals great fun for all involved."

Gordon Park plays Dennis. "He has begun to realise life is passing him by and that he has a pent-up desire to break free from the constraints of his routine life in suburbia," Gordon said."The main challenge is bringing the wonderful dialogue to life in the way Willy Russell intended it. So much of what Dennis says is sincere yet funny, so it's important to get that balance right."

Involved in theatre for the past 30 years, Gordon came to WA in 1988 and has performed in a plethora of productions with Limelight, Playlovers, Stirling, Harbour, Old Mill, Rockingham and Marloo Theatres. "One For The Road appealed because it's a brilliant script written by one of England's finest playwrights," Gordon said. "It's a comedy that has a profound message for any of us who have fallen into a routine on life's journey."

One For The Road plays at 8pm April 1, 3, 8, 9, 10, 15, 16 and 17 with a 2pm matinee April 10. Tickets are $23, $20 concession and $17 children – book at www.limelighttheatre.com.au or call 0499 954 016 between 9am and 12pm, Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Limelight Theatre is on Civic Drive, Wanneroo.