Summer Shorts @ Melville Theatre

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Fri 08 Mar 2024 - Sun 17 Mar 2024

Located at MTC’s brand-new venue, the Main Hall at Melville Civic Centre on Davy Street in Booragoon, this evening of theatre features three locally-written plays: Birth, Death & Somewhere In Between by Kerry Bowden, Choking by Lis Hoffmann and Lynda Butler, and A Man’s Best Friend by Noel O’Neill.

The first show of the night, Birth, Death & Somewhere in Between, is a trilogy of monologues woven together to illuminate the journeys of three men. We meet Toby, a 19-year-old uni student who has just found out he is going to be a father; Vincent, Toby’s 81-year-old grandfather, who is reflecting on the anxieties and frustrations of living in an aged care home; and Peter, Toby’s father, who is about to reluctantly celebrate his 50th birthday.



The twist? All three characters are played by the same actor, Nick Stevenson.

Samson resident Kerry Bowden takes on the dual role of playwright and director in this production which has previously been performed at the Edmonton International Fringe World Festival, The Blue Room, the Fremantle Festival, and with Ellen Street Theatre. This production marks a remounting of the show to showcase the talents of its leading actor.

Nick not only takes on the characters of all three men but also portrays the many offstage characters in each of the storylines, Kerry said.

I hope audiences will easily relate and connect to the characters, and that they will be entertained by the form and versatility within Nick’s solo performance.

In the second play of the night, Choking, we find Paul, a deeply reserved married man who works the hotel front desk at Retreat on the Esplanade with the curious and openly gay Tim. Between them, they manage everything from account balances to demanding guests. At work, Paul keeps himself closed off - but the next 24 hours will change that completely.

This play was written by Lis Hoffmann and Lynda Butler and features a cast of seven local performers including Quinns Rocks resident Phil Bedworth who takes on the role of Paul in this production.

Phil was inspired to put himself forward for the role after first reading the script. Each character was truly engaging from the front page onward, and by the end, I suffered a real emotional juxtaposition of not wanting it to end, but needing a resolution, Phil said.

Co-writer and director Lis Hoffmann (Fremantle resident) echoes this sentiment. Audiences can expect to laugh a lot, as well as be deeply moved, she said.

I love the form of dramatic comedy where you think you know the rules of this world and suddenly you’re somewhere you don’t expect to be.

The final play of the night is A Man’s Best Friend, a comedy written and directed by Gooseberry Hill resident Noel O’Neill that surrounds a man’s obsession with his dog that reaches new heights when it puts his relationship with his girlfriend in jeopardy.

When it came to writing the piece, Noel didn’t have to look further than his own backyard.

The inspiration came from my obsession with my Maltese Shih-Tzu dog. He drives me crazy and I love him to bits, Noel said.

The audience can expect humour and empathy from this little piece.

The one-act plays are playing at 7.30pm on 8, 9, 14, 15 and 16 March, and at 5pm on 10 and 17 March. Book tickets via TazTix . Tickets $23 each, or $18 for concession.

Photo taken and supplied by Curtain Call Creatives.

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