When Joe Orton’s play, ENTERTAINING MR SLOANE, was first performed in 1964 it would have been much more confronting than it is now. The current production at the New Theatre focuses on other aspects of the play.The changing allegiances between the various characters and their moral ambiguity are some of the thought provoking themes. There is plenty of humour in this play, and while often it is quite biting some of it verges on the “Are You Being Served” variety. The audience was frequently laughing.
The play opens with middle-aged Kath, played by Alice Livingstone, showing the attractive young Mr Sloane (Brynn Loosemore) around her flat as he is interested in renting a room. Kath is quite flirtatious with Sloane and is slightly desperate about getting him to take the room. When he asks about the board she says, whilst preening herself, that they could come to some sort of arrangement. Sloane responds to these advances but is rebuked by Kath.
She is very open about her previous relationship and a child given up for adoption and how she would like to mother Sloane who is about the age her son would be now. In today’s world she would be seen as a bit of a cougar, albeit the sad and lonely variety. This is not how it was written in the sixties. This changing context presents a dilemma for Rosane McNamara and to some extent she has to rely on the audience being knowledgeable about the mores of the time.
Kath lives with her aged father, Kemp, played by Frank McNamara, who recognises Sloane as the murderer of his employer a couple of years earlier. Unlike the other characters, Kemp does not fluctuate in his dislike of Sloane and is the only consistent character in this miserable environment.
Kath’s brother Ed arrives and is not happy about Sloane becoming a lodger. Ed has taken a protective interest in Kath’s wellbeing for the last twenty years because of her indiscretion that resulted in a child out of wedlock. Ed is played by Pete Nettell who strikes a good balance between developing a sexual relationship with Sloane and downplaying his homosexuality, which at the time was frowned upon. Sloane charms Ed to the extent that Ed encourages Kath to take him in and also offers him a job.
The relationship between Ed, Kath and Sloane continually shifts and Orton’s development of the changing power structure and allegiances is beautifully crafted.
The set, designed by Marissa Dale-Johnson, puts us right into a squalid 2 up, 2 down house on the edge of a garbage tip.
Rosane McNamara’s production of Joe Orton’s ENTERTAINING MR SLOANE opened at the New Theatre, 542 King Street, Newtown on Thursday 21st June and runs until Saturday 14th July, 2012.
© Mark Pigott
22nd June, 2012
Tags: Sydney Theatre Reviews- ENTERTAINING MR SLOANE, Joe Orton, New Theatre, Newtown, Rosane McNamara, Frank McNamara, Alice Livingstone, Brynn Loosemore, Pete Nettell, Marissa Dale-Johnson, Bob Seary, Sydney Arts Guide, Mark Pigott.