A STEADY RAIN is an entertaining and thoughtful play about a couple of police buddies- Denny, played with authenticity by Michael Booth, and Joey, played with great charm by Sam O’Sullivan, childhood friends who, as adults, share a police patrol car.
A STEADY RAIN is well directed by Owen Trevor, who spent five years as a director of BBC’S Top Gear and has also directed music videos, commercials, a successful Winter Olympic bid film, short films and television drama.
We only see and hear from Denny & Joey but their stories introduce a long list of characters. This makes it feel as if there is a large cast and the audience experiences concern, disgust, fascination and a whole range of feelings towards these diverse characters.
Joey is struggling with isolation and alcohol and Denny frequently has him to his house to have a home cooked meal and to see the value of family through Denny’s wife Connie and his two young sons. Joey benefits from this arrangement and reciprocates by passing on the wisdom he picks up from an anti-racism seminar he is attending. Joey & Denny have both been overlooked for promotion and their racist attitudes are a major reason for this.
Denny is corrupt on a fairly low level and can justify this as he provides protection in return. Denny has an ongoing feud with Walter, one of the local pimps. It is hard to see how Denny’s behaviour is any better than that of Walter’s. Denny justifies his behaviour as he is doing things for his family. As Denny says, “It’s a blood thing. It goes beyond logic.”
Playwright Keith Huff has written a play with characters we care about and an interesting plot. There is plenty of conflict between Joey & Denny as well as conflict with The Department, the detectives, their supervisor and the criminals. It is well worth seeing.
The Tap Gallery is a charming and idiosyncratic venue that includes an art gallery, a bar, a second hand bookshop and some fairly eclectic decorations.
A Cathode Ray Tube production, A STEADY RAIN opened at the Tap Gallery, 278 278 Palmer Street, Darlinghurst on Thursday 22nd November and runs until Saturday December 8, 2012.
© Mark Pigott
23rd November, 2012
Tags: Sydney Theatre Reviews- A STEADY RAIN, Cathode Ray Tube Theatre Company, Michael Booth, Sam O’Sullivan, Owen Trevor, Kevin Huff, Tap Gallery Darlingurst, Sydney Arts Guide, Mark Pigott.