Elizabeth Surbey

AN O.HENRY CHRISTMAS @ THE GUILD THEATRE ROCKDALE : IT’S IN THE ART OF GIVING THAT WE RECEIVE

Above photo : (Left to right) Neilson Brown as Grover, Akshay Bharda as Hal, Gary Clark as O.P, Yolanda Regueira as Agnes, Melissa Gosling Brown as Merguerite in An O.Henry Christmas

(left to right) Yolanda Regueira as Agnes, Melissa Gosling-Smith as Merguerite, Vince Melton as Dinty in ‘An O.Henry Christmas’
(left to right) Maria Micallef as Fran, Neilson Brown as Grover, Akshay Bharde as Hal, Yolanda Regueira as Agnes in ‘An O.Henry Christmas’

There was a tension playing across the stage last night’s opening of the latest at the Guild Theatre in Rockdale. The company have waited since originally intending to produce the play in 2021 with a Covid disruption. Director Bill Ayers was keen to bring it to the boards.

It is still timely given the present cost of living crisis and we are all two steps away from being homeless as our company of storytellers. Our New York City characters are visited by the Christmas Spirit in the form of OP, O’Henry himself, who makes plain with one good deed should reveal another.

The players are bonded by circumstance and face a Christmas time in the cold outdoors, keeping warm before a kettle drum burner and fed with a simple broth they share. OP encourages them to enact his stories. A way to pass time and further firm their unique situation, in support of each other. It would seem the brusque copper Guido and his visits might indicate he also has a heart.

I am sure into the run, the cautious pace of the performers will lift to serve each individual story more. I mention Fran played by Maria Micallef, as the glue for this production delivering strength of her character and well timed humorous interludes. I commend also the lighting design and a simple yet most effective set support the time and place of the 1890s depression.

My favourite story was amongst the chosen. That of a young couple whose determined love meant their chosen Christmas gifts might miss the mark. Their love could only have been more secure by the gesture.

In this time of many challenges both here at home and abroad, a story of generosity of deed, gesture, intention for goodwill and care is timely indeed.

AN O. HENRY CHRISTMAS

By Howard Burman Based on Stories by O’Henry

Directed by Bill Ayers

Dates of Run 23 February – 17 March, 2024

For tickets: https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing/1157877

CAST

Neilson Brown – Grover

Gary Clark – O. P.

Melissa Gosling-Smith – Marguerite

Alex Hons – Guido

Vince Melton – Dinty

Maria Micallef – Fran

William Middleton – Hal

Yolanda Regueira – Agnes

 

PERFORMANCE DATES

Friday 23 February 8 pm

Saturday 24 February 2 pm

Sunday 25 February 2 pm

Wednesday 28 February 8 pm

Friday 1 March 8 pm

Saturday 2 March 2 pm

Sunday 3 March 2 pm

Wednesday 6 March 8 pm

Friday 8 March 8 pm

Saturday 9 March 2 pm

Sunday 10 March 2 pm

Wednesday 13 March 8 pm

Friday 15 March 8 pm

Saturday 16 March 2 pm

Sunday 17 March 2 pm

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Published by Elizabeth Surbey

Elizabeth had a passion for theatre and performing from her youth and was a keen contributor to the joint school musicals- mostly the Gilbert and Sullivan romps. Once she headed to university this passion dominated with a 4 year stint at UNE in Armidale encompassing both performance and directing as major components of her Double Major in Drama and Major in English Literature. The year after graduation she found herself not only at the newly formed Actors' Centre but also teaching high school drama. She is still there, teaching, directing, writing for high school Drama and on the side across the years has performed in small season productions at Q theatre and directed several productions for the Short & Sweet program being a part of the inaugural group. Keenly she has represented other drama educators as committee member then President of Drama NSW also representing NSW on the National Committee at Drama Australia National Conferences. She completed her MA a century ago also with a focus on Drama & Theatre at UNSW. She is now a mum of two and recently directed her sixth Musical - perhaps now coming full circle in the scheme of things. She was contributing and consulting editor on a major Drama text for Cambridge Uni Press "Drama ReLoaded". More than anything she loves theatre and is very keen to share her experiences with this forum. Each year she directs secondary students in plays from Australia and across the globe, in productions large and small.