Featured photo – Blazey Best as Helene
In this play, a 1981 stage adaptation by xxx of New York writer Helene Hanff’s acclaimed 1970 memoir, Helen is wanting to buy obscure publications, especially British language titles, that she just can’t procure in New York.
Helene finds an advertisement in the Saturday Review of Literature. The advert is from Mark and Co, an antiquarian bookstore in London. She contacts the bookstore and senior staff member Frank Doel responds. Helene puts in her first order which Doel meets.
At first it is simply a business relationship but as Helene’s orders keep on coming in, the two, with their shared passion for literature, develop a poignant friendship that continues over a twenty year period between 1949 and 1969.
A lot happens in the world during this time period, and Helene shows how much she values the friendship by sensing Frank and his staff, who Helene also befriends, Christmas and birthday gifts and food parcels to to help with the post World War 2 food shortages in London.
Their letters include discussions about the merits of literary luminaries such as John Donne and Geoffrey Chaucer who she found very difficult. Major events are also featured including the coronation of Queen Elizabeth 11.
With Mark Kilmurry’s accomplished production, the actors get to showcase their wiles as they have play the play’s quirky characters whilst the audience enjoys spending time with these characters and the cast’s fine portrayals.
Blazey Best as Helene Hanff and Erik Thomson as Frank Doel play the main characters.
Best gives a wonderful performance, surely one of her best, revelling in playing such a colourful character. Erik Thomson gives a good performance in the less dynamic role as the reserved Englishman who slowly lets down his guard. Whilst Helene is feisty and provocative, Frank is placid and reflective, As at one time Helene says, ‘I keep trying to puncture that British reserve. If he gets ulcers, I did it.”
Playwright James Roose-Evans’ also peoples the play with some good supporting roles.
There is Maxine Stuart, played by Katie Fitchett, who travels to London and checks out Marks and Co and Frank for Helene. Fitchett’s entry on to stage as the glamorous New Yorker with a stunning outfit was a show highlight. Fitchett also plays Megan Wells, the hard working junior assistant at Marks and Co.
Angela Mahlatjie has a good stage presence and plays the high spirited Cecily Farr, the first Marks and Co employee to correspond with Helene outside of Frank. Mahliatjie also plays Helene’s next door neighbour Mrs Todd who has a difficult time getting Helene’s head out of her books.
Rounding the cast was a fine comic performance by Brian Meegan who plays senior Marks and Co employee Mr Harrison, a very old fashioned British gentleman who with his fluffing around and disapproving looks, the best way to describe it is silent stage business, shows his disapproval of Frank and Helene’s correspondence.
The actors moved well within Nick Fry’s very detailed, functional set with its split level stage; the upper level Helene’s office in her New York apartment, the office ai Marks and Co. Fry’s costumes took us back to that period in time.
Matt Cox lit the stage well. Julia Robertson was the movement director.
Madeleine Picard’s evocative soundscape particularly impressed, subliminally adding to the experience of the play.
Some friendships have more warmth and love within them than many relationships, and this surely was the case with Helene and her Frank.
Recommended, 84 CHARING CROSS ROAD is playing the Ensemble Theatre , 78 McDougall Street, Kirribilli until 13th June 2026. Tickets from $46.
Production photography by Prudence Upton
http://www.ensembletheatre.com.au
