Review: Summer of the 17th Doll (HTC)

Celebrating its 60^th Anniversary season, the Heidelberg Theatre Company has included one of Australia’s most iconic plays, having first performed ‘The Doll’ in 1992.

Themes of respectability and tradition are explored during the seventeenth summer that Olive (Jodie Symes) has welcomed itinerant cane cutters Roo (Gavin Williams) and Barney (Dan Haberfield) for the off-season. This year Pearl (Tina Bono) replaces Nance who has married, for many weeks of revelry. But the summer doesn’t unfold as anticipated.

Costumes and props have been thoughtfully assembled with hats, gloves, 1950’s hairstyles and cigarette rolling. Continue reading 

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My profile article on Australian playwright Ray Lawler is now published online at Stage Whispers.

Ray Lawler's contribution to Australian theatre is renowned, particularly in relation to his play The Summer of the Seventeenth Doll which, for the first time, used Australian colloquial language and represented ordinary, everyday characters. It was also the first Australian play to be performed internationally.

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