This is one of the big shows of the year for the Sydney Theatre Company, and the Director, and Artistic Director of the Sydney Theatre Company, Kip Williams has come up with a very fine production which richly deserved the standing ovation it received on opening night.
This is epic theatre in the tradition of the stage adaptation of Charles Dickens Nicholas Nickleby and Tim Winton’s Cloud Street. Part 1 runs over three hours and Part 2 over two hours of stage time.
The plays are the work of Kate Mulvany who has adapted novelist Ruth Park’s trilogy – Missus, The Harp in the South and Poor Man’s Orange – to the stage and spread the much loved stories across the two parts.
The work can best be described as an evocative family saga. Part 1 begins with a love story. It’s the 1920’s in a dusty, rural NSW town when young Margaret Kilker falls for Hugh Darcy. Newly married and in search of a brighter future, they move to Sydney’s Surry Hills, where they find a home on Plymouth Street and start a family. In the shadow of the Second World War, their daughters Rose and Dolour set out on their own adventures on the crowded streets of Sydney.
Part 2 starts off in the changing landscape of Sydney in the 1940’s. The shadow of the war lingers, however there is a new danger on the horizon. The homes of Surry Hills’ poor are being threatened by the government plans for redevelopment. The homes of Surry Hills’ poor are being threatened by the Government plans for redevelopment. Together, the community of workers, rebels and misfits rise up and fight back. At twelve and a half Plymouth Street, four generations of the Darcy clan share their narrow terrace home and maintain their struggle to create a better life for themselves despite the obstacles life throws at them.
The main feature of the set design by David Fleischer is the use of a revolve through the show. Through the play cast members and techies could be seen coming on stage with props for the next scene. Even the constructed sets, for instance of the Darcy’s Surry Hills home, were mobile and easily moved.
The soundscape created by Nate Edmondson with some music composed by The Sweats always worked in with the action well. Some harp music was appropriately woven into the soundscape.
Renee Mulder’s period costume designs for the cast worked well.
The cast were excellent, comprising some eighteen actors. Many amongst the cast played multiple characters. For ease of reference I have only referred to their main role.
Anita Hegh is superb as the very genuine, big hearted, devout Margaret Darcy. Jack Finsterer gave a strong performance as her often inebriated and unfaithful husband, Hugh Darcy. They are on a collision course during the play and when things do come to a head it makes for one of the most dramatic scenes in the play.
Rose Riley plays their feisty, wilful, adventurous older daughter Rowena who gets herself into difficult situations. Guy Simon plays her good natured, very supportive husband Charlie Rothe.
Contessa Treffone plays Rowena’s shy though warm and very bright younger sister, Dolour Darcy, who does come out of her older sister’s shadow by the play’s end.
The ever reliable Tara Morice plays the distressed Miss Sheily who isn’t able to cope with her son’s disabilities and who deals with it by lashing out at him with a belt. Morice gives a finely judged performance.
Heather Mitchell gives a great performance as the incorrigible grandmother Kilker and steals most of the scenes she is in.
Helen Thomson, as always, was memorable, particularly in her performance as the bold and brassy Delie Stock who always has something to say.
Veteran performer Bruce Spence was a delight. Spence played a range of ‘minor’ roles with ease from a religious figures to a barfly to an eye specialist. His performance was always warm and engaging.
Impressive young actor Jack Ruwald had an important role playing Thady Darcy. One day, Thady walked from the family home and never came home. Margaret is forever haunted by what happened and through the play she has times where she imagines his return.
George Zhao played the elderly Chinese grocer Lick Jimmy who has a special friendship and rapport with Dolour Darcy.
Luke Carroll, Benedict Hardie, Emma Harvie, Lucia Mastrantone, Ben O’Toole and Rahel Romahn each made significant contributions with their performances in multiple roles.
This was an engrossing, richly theatrical production which one was swept along by. Highly recommended, HARP IN THE SOUTH, is playing the Roslyn Packer Theatre until the 6th October, 2018. For performance times check www.sydneytheatre.com.au