“This is a play that turns on a dime, one scene is high farce, the next is a poignant, tender one.” Anthony Gooley is talking about Steve Martin’s play THE UNDERPANTS. Anthony is directing the play for Sugary Rum Productions with the play starting at the Reginald Theatre, Seymour Centre on Thursday 31 October.
Steve Martin’s play is an adaptation of Carl Stenheim’s 1910 German farce ‘Die Hose’. His play was first produced off Broadway in April 2002.
In THE UNDERPANTS, Louise and Theo Markes are a conservative couple who have their entire existence shattered when Louise’s bloomers fall down in public whilst watching the King’s parade. Theo flies into a panic thinking the incident will cost him his job as a government clerk. Louise’s momentary display does not result in the feared scandal, but it does attract two infatuated men, each of whom wants to rent the spare room in the Markes’ home!
I remember seeing the play at Belvoir Street Theatre back in 2003 in a production directed by Neil Armfield and it is a very funny satire, poking fun at the middle class. Anthony said, “It’s coming up to the end of the year and people are in the mood for a good comedy.”
I am used to seeing Anthony on stage, he is a very fine actor, and this is the first production I will see where he is the director. He has got together an excellent cast including Beth Daly (Grey Gardens – Squabbalogic, Cry Baby – Hayes Theatre, Heretics – Sydney Theatre Company), Ben Gerrard (American Psycho – Hayes Theatres, ABC’s Deep Water), Robin Goldsworthy (Our Town – Sydney Theatre Company, 80 Minutes No Interval – Old Fitz), Tony Taylor (Calamity Jane – Hayes Theatre, Julius Caesar – Sport for Jove), Duncan Fellows (ABC’s Laid and The Letdown and the upcoming Fam Time for Channel 7) and two-time Sydney Theatre Award nominee Gabrielle Scawthorn (Ear to the Edge of Time – Sport for Jove, Ironbound – KXT).
“It’s a great cast. They are all gifted comic actors. It will be a fun night. There’s lots of physical comedy. and farcical elements which the cast are really enjoying. Audiences will be entertained.”
Gooley spoke of how designer Anna Gardiner has come up with a period set with deference to the absurdist elements in the play. The soundscape will feature bits of music from the period.
A revealing comedy, Steve Martin’s THE UNDERPANTS will play the Reginald Theatre at the Seymour Centre between Thursday October 31 and Saturday 16th November. Performances are Tuesdays to Saturdays at 7.30pm and Saturdays at 2pm. It sounds like it will be worth a visit.
BOOKINGS: https://www.seymourcentre.com/events/event/the-underpants/ or 02 9351 7940
Featured image : Director Anthony Gooley at rehearsals. Pic by Christopher Starnawski.