The Anniversary at Marloo Theatre

The Anniversary at Marloo Theatre

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Posted 2018-03-29 by grooverfollow

Thu 26 Apr 2018 - Sat 12 May 2018



Ever had a mother-in-law from hell? Or been part of a dysfunctional family? Marloo Theatre's latest offering is The Anniversary, a black comedy where a mother binds her three sons to her with gifts, threats and ruthless exploitation of their weaknesses.

Written by Bill MacIlwraith and directed by Rob Warner, the show sees revolt in the air as they come to celebrate their parents' wedding anniversary (despite dad being dead for years). One son gathers the courage to tell his mother he's taking his wife and family to Canada while another breaks the news of his impending marriage – but is it enough to stop their mother ruling the roost?



A long-time audience favourite, The Anniversary was adapted into a 1968 film with Bette Davis in the central mother role. "The suggestion for the play came from my wife Jacqui, who plays the mother in this production," Rob said."I really enjoyed reading it and realised the show would be suitable for the Marloo Theatre stage.It's set the in the 1960s, which is an era I like, while the toxic relationship between the mum and her sons makes it an interesting and challenging play to direct."

Joining Marloo Theatre in 1993, initially just to keep an eye on his kids, Rob has been involved ever since and has spent the past 12 years as president. He mainly works as a stage manager and has branched out with other companies including the Old Mill, KADS, Regal, Rechabites and Stirling Theatres and the Graduate Dramatic Society.



Rob made his directing debut with The Foreigner at Marloo Theatre in 2016, picking up the Yvonne Lynch Breakthrough Award, David Crewes Award for best set and nominations for best director and best play, at the annual Finley Awards. More recently, he directed a sell-out season of Wife After Death for Serial Productions. "Although The Anniversary is a dark comedy, the challenge is to make it believable and the relationships real, rather than playing it for laughs," Rob said.



Rob's wife Jacqui has embraced the mother role. "She's possibly the most evil, controlling and manipulative mother that ever was," she said. "It's set in the 1960s in south London, and I come from south-east London, so the accent is a joy to do"."My biggest challenge is to be nasty enough while still making it believable. The mother character doesn't believe she is nasty – she believes she's perfectly entitled to say and do whatever she wants. Everyone else is wrong and she is always right."



Performing since 2004, Jacqui has appeared with the Old Mill, Marloo, KADS, Stirling and Kwinana Theatres, Serial Productions and the Graduate Dramatic Society in a variety of productions, as well as The Birthday Party at Rechabites Hall and 'Allo 'Allo at the Regal Theatre. She also has a host of acting awards and nominations to her credit for roles in Romeo and Juliet, Butterflies are Free, The Shifting Heart, The Foreigner, The Birthday Party, Intimate Exchanges and The Cemetery Club."I saw the film version of The Anniversary on TV many years ago and Bette Davis was at her evil best," Jacqui said "There are not many juicy roles for women of my vintage so when I realised it was originally a play, I got hold of the script, read it, and then hinted very loudly to my husband Rob that it might be a good play for him to direct! What woman wouldn't want to do a Bette Davis role?"

The Anniversary plays at 8pm April 27, 28, May 2, 4, 5, 9, 11, 12, 16, 18 and 19 with 2pm matinees April 29, May 6 and 13. Tickets are $22, $20 concession, $18 members – book on 6270 1465 or at www.trybooking.com/TZMQ . Marloo Theatre is at 20 Marloo Road, Greenmount (off Innamincka Road).



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!date 26/04/2018 -- 12/05/2018
%wnperth
178227 - 2023-06-15 20:04:49

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