The Club
The School play this year was a triumph of comedy and wit - although in truth it was actually two plays. First Harold Pinter's short, 'Trouble in the Works', brilliantly performed by Charlie Seddon and Marcus Cox.
David Williamson's 'The Club' was an ambitious choice for a School play, set in an Australian Rules Football club in 1970s where the players were about to go on strike. Club President, Jock (Elliot Arnold) played 292 games for the team in his day and is furious that strike action could even be considered. His equally heavy-drinking Chair, Ted (George Solomou) has improved the club's commercial position but now finds himself isolated between Jock and the players. Then there is Laurie (Tom Bannon), a former club player and now long-serving coach, who tried to assuage the anger of his players while also fighting for his own position. Circling proceedings is Gerry (James Seery), Aussie Rule's top administrator who uses his cunning to orchestrate everything whilst appearing to be everyone's best friend. The players themselves - Danny (Aaron Rozanski) and Geoff (Daniel Surkes) - were a wonderful mix of arrogance and insecurity, their agendas constantly clashing with those of their management.
The play's most vital element was humour, with the actors brilliantly representing caustic Aussie wit at its best. The fact that every single actor clearly defined each individual role meant that there was an abundance of interesting subtexts throughout. Most memorable, were the tempestuous battles that Jock had with Ted and Laurie, the latter two trying to hang on to their jobs against a corrupt club stalwart hell-bent on protecting his reputation - along with a scheming Gerry with his shifting allegiances. The mix of alcohol, swearing and pride was a heady cocktail and meant there was never a time when the pace slowed. Every actor gave depth to their character - striking a contrasting note of pathos amid the largely comic proceedings. The moment when Laurie instructs the players to start taking down the club photos from the walls was an eloquent rebuke to the arrogance of his bosses. Overall, this was a hugely enjoyable production, directed with typical aplomb by Dameon Garnett and acted with both swagger and sensitivity by the cast.