TRIPLE congratulations to the Pymble Players. First, for its four-star performance of Terrence McNally’s irreverent theatre comedy, IT’S ONLY A PLAY. Second, for its successful move into the Zenith Theatre in Chatswood from its former residence in Pymble. And third, for being one of the oldest community theatres in Australia, since 1957. What a success story.
IT’S ONLY A PLAY is a 1978 American Broadway comedy – fast moving, hilarious one-liners and acerbic quips about theatre critics – which McNally rewrote for a 2017 revival, and this is the script which Pymble Players uses. The Pymble Players have snuck in some contemporary elements – mobile phones and cracks about Elon Musk and others.
The setting is the Manhattan townhouse of the producer of the new play, The Golden Egg. It is after opening night, and seven people are awaiting the critics’ reviews. Self-deluded optimism of the seven characters crashes when the New York Times critic savages The Golden Egg. The producer, playwright, actor and their friends all eventually manage to overcome their disappointment as they turn to writing a new play all together, as a committee. With classic eternal optimism, they believe their new play will be a hit. It becomes a play within a play within a play. For some reason, the audience doesn’t get lost in the rush to create. That’s clever writing.
The costumes are amazing, sourced from the Gosford Musical Society, Willoughby Theatre Company and the Pymble Players’ own stash – a fine example of community theatre cooperation. The set includes a beautiful love seat and has all the fittings of New York wealth.
Director Joy Sweeney has perfectly cast the characters. Nick Roberts is the self-deluded playwright. Ross Alexander plays the older actor who gave up stage acting to be in a TV sit-com. Heather Pitt plays the pill-popping actress who wants a return to her golden days.
Cassandra Gorman plays the enthusiastic, ditzy producer, who will have to take a tax write-off as a result of the play’s measly box office.
Clive Hobson plays the acerbic critic. Cameron Drake plays the young cloak boy desperate to get an audition. Tim Wotherspoon hilariously overacts as the play’s English director.
There are clever jibes about the East Coast versus the West Coast, the theatre world versus television, British theatre versus Broadway and talent versus the wannabes.
Aside from the actors, there are 17 others on the production team. Well done, Pymble Players.
IT’S ONLY A PLAY is playing the Zenith theatre, Chatswood until the 22nd March 2025.
Production photography by Daniel Ferris
