Scriptwriters have, over the years, tucked in to the Bard’s canon, and come up with some interesting adaptations.Think Leonard Bernstein’s 1961 ‘West Side Story’ starring Natalie Wood and Richard Beymar, Gus Van Sant’s ‘My Private Idaho’ (1991) starring Keanu Reeves and the late River Phoenix, a loose adaptation of’Henry IV’, and the great 1999 romantic comedy ’10 Things I Hate AboutYou’ starring the late Heath Ledger and Julia Styles, a contemporary adaptation of ‘The Taming Of The Shrew’. This adaptation was set in a high school setting where new student Cameron has his eyes set on the school ‘It’ girl Bianca but he is only allowed to date her if he can organise a date for her temperamental older sister Kat.
Similarly in American playwright Mike Lew’s adaptation of King Richard III is set in a high school setting. It is again a low key version. Richard Gloucester is a severely disabled student who is sick of being bullied. The most prized possession that classmates vie for is to be high school president. Richard decides this is the year that he is going to make things happen.He is going to run for President, directly opposing the guy he despises most in the world, football jock, Eddie Ivy, who believes he will run unopposed. He has the grades required so his rather jaded teacher Ms York has to acquiesce, and let him run.Will he be able to rise to the top? Lew’s play plays out in unexpected ways.
Dan Graham’s production is earnest and to the point. The staging within the tiny performance space is good with a few props wheeled in and off the stage to indicate a change in setting. Roman Berry’s choreography played an important role in the production.
Dean Nash gives a strong performance as Richard Gloucester whose ‘vaulting ambition’ is his undoing. It was a tough role to play, and he tenaciously stuck to it right till the end. Very impressive.
Holly-Jane Cohle played Richard’s best friend, wheelchair user, Barbara ‘Buck’ Buckingham. Richard gives less and less time to Buck, though she continues to hope that he will come to his senses. Disappointment and then anger are the principal emotions that Cohle conveys.
Chloe Ho gives a well measured, touching portrayal as Richard’s love interest, Anne Margaret. Anne was the most popular girl in school, and was dating hunk Eddie when she suddenly broke things off. The scenes between Ho and Nash are poignantly played. In a brief solo scene, Ho also gets to showcase her silky ballet skills.
Rocco Forrester is good as Eddie Ivy. He doesn’t hold back in his portrayal of this obnoxious ratbag.
Gemma Dart is good as the irritating do-gooder, Jesus loving Clarissa Duke who wants to run for President as well. As is Amy Victoria Brooks who plays the vapid, well meaning teacher given the thankless task of keeping her students in line.
The cast is completed by ensemble members Keira Farley and Thom Blake.
TEENAGE DICK represents the first time that Kate Bookallil and Siobhan Lawless, the Artistic Directors of Flight Path Theatre, have coproduced a play staged on their home turf. Their coproduction with the Divergent Theatre Collective works well, and hopefully this will mean that Flight Path will work and grow with other independent in to the future.
Mike Lew’s TEENAGE DICK is playing the Flight Path Marrickville until the 5th August 2023
Production photography by Andrea Magpulong