Belvoir Street Theatre is ending the year with arguably its biggest production of the year. It is sure to bring in decent audiences with its portrayal of one of Australia’s most well known and wealthy families.
Belvoir’s Artistic Director Eamon Flack’s production is fast paced with very clear direction. The set was left bare with props beings moved in and off the stage by players and stage crew. The performances were all good. There was a bit of doubling up of roles but with the clear direction there was no confusion.
Kerry Packer, in an excellent performance by John Howard, is just how I imagined him to be. Powerful, gruff, impatient, intolerant. Feet up on his office desk..exerts editorial control over his media network-‘I don’t want Bob Hawke on my channel. He’s a communist.’..In one scene he’s seriously ill in hospital and the Doctor wants him to rest but he keeps on engaging with work visitors as he slips in and out of consciousness. In another, different hospital scene, Kerry wasn’t a well man, sees him storm out of his hospital bed to get some take away food.
Josh McConville played James Packer, the more favoured of Kerry’s two sons. James comes across as a little naive. James’s big journey is to break free from his father’s controlling behaviour and find his own way in the world.
Brandon McClelland gave a very good performance as Clyde Packer, James’s older brother. He stands up to Kerry more than James did. There’s a scene where he walks out on his father after they having had a blazing row. James was in the room and didn’t say a word.
John Gaden plays a nuggety, straight to the point Rupert Murdoch. Is there any other?!
Nick Bartlett plays a sharp Lachlan Murdoch. The play sees Lachlan and James often meet up for business meetings. The play focuses on their One Tel fiasco.
Anthony Harkin plays One Tel’s Jodee Rich, who comes across as not being too bright, and a little childlike. There’s a scene where Jodee tackles James and they roll around on the floor until Kerry comes thundering in and reprimands them.
Recommended, Tommy Murphy’s PACKER AND SONS is playing upstairs at Belvoir Street Theatre until Sunday 22nd December, 2019.
https://belvoir.com.au/productions/packer-and-sons/
