“I’ll be all around in the dark. I’ll be everywhere. Wherever you can look- wherever there’s a fight so hungry people can eat, I’ll be there. Wherever there’s a cop beatin’ up a guy, I’ll be there. I’ll be there in the way guys yell when they’re mad. I’ll be there in the way kids laugh when they’re hungry and they know supper’s ready, and when the people are eatin’ the stuff they raise and livin’ in the house they build, I’ll be there too.” Tom Joad ‘The Grapes Of Wrath
This is Louise Fischer’s production of Frank Galati stage adaptation of John Steinbeck’s 1940 Pulitzer Prize winning novel which won the Tony Award for Best Play in 1990.
The impoverished Joad family escape the devastation of the Oklahoma ‘dust bowl’ by loading up their truck and joining the great migration west to the fertile valleys of California, in search of work. Their hopes are dashed after they reach their ‘promised land’ when they find out that the realities of the Great Depression have hit California hard.
Fischer’s production is epic in scale and very energetic. Tom Bannerman’s set is compact and fluid. Michael Schell’s lighting design is, at times, striking. David Cashman’s soundscape featuring a lot of songs was edgy and atmospheric. Sharna Graham’s period costumes worked well. Christine Hatzis was the Vision Designer. Victoria Lewis choreography was very effective, managing a large cast.
The show features some twenty actors. She wins good performances from her cast.
Matthew Abotomey plays the lead role of Tom Joad. Tom does his best to protect his family and stand up for what he thinks is right, sometimes leading to fights in which he must defend either himself or his loved ones.
Rowena McNicol played Ma Joad, the matriarch of the family, and a pillar of strength. She has a realistic view on hardship, acknowledging tough times but believing that the family well see the tough times through.
William Baltyn plays Jim Casy a former preacher who has lost faith in organised religion. Casy accompanies the Joads on their trek. He initiates a change in Tom Joad by inspiring him to further the cause of helping migrant people.
Andy Simpson plays Pa Joad, a good man and hard worker. The difficulties the family experience on its journey to California, including the inability to find work, wear Pa Joad down. When solutions begin to fail him, he lets Ma Joad take over the running of the family.
Madeline Macrae plays Rivers and the more substantial role of Rose of Sharon, the oldest of the Joad daughters, though a bit childish. She matures a lot during the play.
Matthew Raven plays Connie Rivers, Rose of Sharon’s husband. Connie is a bit of a dreamer. He wants to live in the city and take classes in radio some day. He isn’t held in high regard by the Joad family.
Peter Irving Smith plays Grampa Joad,Tom’s feisty grandfather who is a bit of a stirrer and acts out constantly, shocking people.
Jennie Dibley plays Grandma Joad who is a devout Christian. She often pokes fun and challenges her husband.
Ryan Madden plays Al Joad, Tom’s younger brother who works on cars and enjoys chasing girls. With Tom’s help, Al is responsible for maintaining the family truck, making a crucial contribution to the family getting to California.
Simon Emmerson plays the Sheriff and the more substantial role of Noah Joad. Noah is Tom’s older brother and is seen as being a bit slow and emotionless. Noah believes that Ma and Pa are a bit sorry about having him.
James Bean plays Tom’s Uncle John, He carries a heavy burden of guilt; his young wife died after he ignored her complaints about stomach pain. John blames himself for her death and believes that he brings bad luck to the family. He does what he can but mostly keeps to himself and numbs his pain with alcohol.
Lily Stirling plays Ruthie Joad, the youngest Joad daughter. She competes a lot with her sibling Winnifred and loves to show off. She finds herself at a crossroads between being a child and becoming a young lady.
Loki Texilake plays Winnifred, the youngest Joad child. She looks up to Ruthie but is also competitive with her. Despite her young age she must work picking peaches and cotton with the rest of the family in California.
Peter David Allison plays Muley Graves, a gas station owner, a contractor and is part of the Ensemble.
Ted Crosby plays Officer Hooper Ranch Guard and is part of the Ensemble,
Shayne De Groot plays a bookkeeper, a son and is part of the Ensemble.
Angus Evans plays proprietor, Floyd Knowles and is part of the Ensemble.
Brittany Johnson plays Al’s girl, Floyd’s wife, Aggie Wainwright and is part of the Ensemble.
Caroline Levien plays a Gas station attendant, Elizabet Sandry and is part of the Ensemble.
Kirsty McKenzie plays an agricultural officer, Mrs Wainwright and is part of the Ensemble.
Recommended, THE GRAPES OF WRATH is playing the New Theatre, 542 King Street, Newtown until Saturday 7th September, 2019. Performances are Thursdays to Sundays at 7.30pm, Sundays at 5pm and one Saturday matinee at 2pm.
Production photography by Bob Seary.
