About The Production – The Other Place

The Other Place

The Adelaide Repertory Theatre is getting ready to dive into the enigmatic world of “The Other Place!” and invites you to join in on the journey.

This emotionally charged theatre production tells a tale of loss amidst human complexity. During an About The Production discussion with The Rep, we discussed what to expect.

About The Other Place

What is this Production about?

“The Other Place” is a gripping and emotionally charged play that explores themes of memory, loss, and the complexities of the human mind. The narrative follows Dr Juliana Smithton, a brilliant neurologist whose life begins to unravel in unexpected ways, taking the audience on an enigmatic journey.

What’s challenging about bringing this script to life?

It is a very emotionally charged story, which makes for a very challenging production from many different perspectives involving cast and crew.

What will the audience think about in the car as they drive home after this show?

The play has many deep themes that are all relatable to the human condition in all of us.

Is there anything else you’d like to add?

SPECIAL EVENT: Following each matinee performance, we are hosting an exclusive Q&A session featuring the Director, cast, and advocates from Dementia Australia. These advocates specialise in providing services and support for those living with Dementia and other cognitive health challenges.

This event offers a unique opportunity for families, friends, and colleagues of individuals with Dementia to engage, learn, and connect with experts in the field. Don’t miss this insightful and meaningful discussion.

Where can patrons purchase tickets to this production?

The Other Place runs from 24th Apr – 27th Apr and 30th Apr – 3rd May. To book tickets to The Other Place, please visit https://artstheatresa.sales.ticketsearch.com/sales/salesevent/142694.

Thu 24 Apr at 7:30pm (opening night)
Fri 25 Apr at 7:30pm
Sat 26 Apr at 7:30pm
Sun 27 Apr at 3:00pm (Sunday matinee)
Wed 30 Apr at 7:30pm
Thu 1 May at 7:30pm
Fri 2 May at 7:30pm
Sat 3 May at 3:00pm (Saturday matinee)

Thank you so much for sharing insight into “The Other Place.” Your dedication to exploring such poignant themes is inspiring, and we wish you all the best for the performances. Break a leg!

Other production interviews can be viewed here in our About The Production Series.

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Moonlight and Magnolias

Moonlight and Magnolias

Moonlight and Magnolias Rating

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Margaret Mitchell’s Civil War epic, Gone With the Wind, was published in 1936 and became an international bestseller. It was adapted into a movie in 1939, which garnered eight Academy Awards, including Hattie McDaniel’s win for Best Supporting Actress, which made her the first African American actor to take home an Oscar. However, the movie almost never made it to the big screen.

The producer, David O. Selznick, shut down production after 30 days because he was unhappy with the script. He called in hot shot writer Ben Hecht, who had never read the book, and director Victor Fleming to do a rewrite. Playwright Ron Hutchinson locks Hecht, Fleming, Selznick and his secretary in a room for five days and reimagines how the script was finished in Moonlight & Magnolias.

Hutchinson’s play, based on historical events, is written as farce, but the characters also deal with serious questions about race and the fragile position of Jewish executives in Hollywood.
The roles of Selznick, Hecht, and Fleming are based on historical figures. This play adds a secretary, Miss Poppenghul, who stays near the office while the men are locked inside for five days, surviving on peanuts and bananas.

Director Harry Dewar’s production focusses on the tension between the three creatives. He makes full use of the large stage dominated by an elegant Art Deco set in green and peach with a huge picture window at the back designed by Skye Mc Vicar and lit by Richard Parkhill. His blocking is almost choreographic at times utilising every corner of the set.

The play opens to a montage of Hollywood in the 2930s (by Brandon Boyer) with the cast cleverly included. A nice touch!

Adam Gregory Schultz plays David O. Selznick with a manic intensity, dominating the stage and pushing the narrative forward. He is a multi-tasker managing multiple props, phone calls, intercoms, bananas and peanuts with equal ease! He scenes with Hecht in Act 2 are a highlight.

Terry Crowe plays Ben Hecht the frustrated script writer with compassion. He is the realist of the creative team. The play uses Hecht’s character to raise questions about whether the script glorifies the Old South. He doubts that the movie will be a hit and doesn’t even want writing credit on the script for fear that it will ruin his career. Hecht asks Selznick at one point, “Why don’t you make a movie that makes America look its ugly face in the mirror?” To which Selznick replies, “Because no one wants to see that. America wants to see the way it thinks it looks.”

Scott Battersby plays Victor Fleming the director, pulled from the set of The Wizard of Oz to work on Gone With The Wind has many of the show’s ‘one-liners’ which he delivers with precision. His portrayal of Melanie giving birth in Act 2 is hysterical!

Rebecca Gardiner plays the well-meaning secretary Miss Poppenghul with patience alternating with exasperation. Dealing with Selznick is enough, but now she has two extra egos to deal with. Special mentions need to go to the costume coordinator Makala Modra and especially the props team Janet Jauncy and Karen Prior who progressively cover the stage with crumpled paper and scripts as time passes in the play.

My reservation with this production is the vocal tone of Act 1 which lacked light and shade with the result that the actors had nowhere to go when angry and some of the laughs were lost. This was resolved in Act 2.

Moonlight and Magnolias is an exposé of the side of Hollywood we do not see, the prejudices of the period, and of course the egos that brought us one of the most iconic movies of the last century!

This review also appears on It’s On The House. Check out more reviews at Whats The Show to see what else is on in your town.

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