Above: left to right Claire Gandy, Chantal Harrison, Nicholas Berthold and Oliver Wilson in Andrew Bovell’s ‘After Dinner’
In prominent Australian playwright Andrew Bovell’s play AFTER DINNER, we are transported back to the 1980s and to the dining room of a very traditional RSL club. It is after work on Friday night and workers have started drifting in, to unwind, and have a few drinks. All the dining tables are free but for two tables.
A young, listless looking guy Gordon is at one table. He is looking around, surveying the scene. Gordon is soon joined by his friend, Stephen, who sees himself as something of a cool dude.
At the other table is Dympie, a young woman, who is also anxiously looking around. In, with a flurry. comes the feisty, loud Paula. Straight away, there is a conflict between the two women. Paula want s to grab a table closer to where the band will be playing. Dympie is happy sitting up the back, a little away from the action. Shortly after Monica arrives, also in a bit of a flustered state.
AFTER DINNER is written in two Acts. In Act 1 there is no real connection between the two groups as they enjoy their drinks and chat. Act 2 begins after the dinner and sees the women join the men at their table.
This is a well crafted, finely nuanced and, at times, very funny play, and these qualities come across with Andrew Castle ‘s capable direction. Castle has the tone of the play right, the actors look their parts, and the costuming works well.
The cast take on their characters with zeal. At the men’s table, Oliver Wilson plays the morose Gordon whilst Nicholas Berthold plays the trying to be suave Stephen.
At the women’s table are Chantal Harrison who plays the tense Dympie, who wants things done her way, Noa Besser is the feisty, vibrant Paula, and Claire Gandy is the grieving widow, Monica.
The main claim to fame of this play is that it features two very funny monologues, one by Monica and the other by Stephen, and the two actors make the most of these comic gems. Just to be in the audience for them is alone worth the price of admission.
A winner with the audience, this satisfying Lane Cove Theatre company revival of Andrew Bovell’s AFTER DINNER is playing the Pottery Lane Performance Space, Pottery Lane, Lane Cove, just a few minutes walk from the main Lane Cover shopping centre.
Website – www.lanecovetheatrecompany.com.au or Tickets www.trybooking.com/DHVSW
