Review - Timeshare

Malthouse Theatre Presents

Timeshare

By Lally Katz

Direction - Oliver Butler

Set and Costume Design – Dale Ferguson

Lighting Design – Paul Jackson

Sound Design and Composition – Jethro Woodward

Choreography – Bec Reid

Cast:  Fayssal Bazzi, Marg Downey, Brigid Gallacher and Bert LaBonte

23 April – 17 May

This ridiculously funny work, riddled with cliché and infused with strange surrealist unreality and imagery, was enthusiastically received on opening night.

Mother Sandy (Marg Downey) and Daughter Kristy (Brigid Gallacher) are at a non-specific resort, somewhere on the International Date Line in the Pacific, having their own generic holiday.  They seem happy enough but are both experiencing niggling problems and dissatisfactions.  The infinity swimming pool is empty.  Sandy seems to be wearied by the perpetual badgering, to buy a timeshare, by Gary the annoying resort manager, played superbly by Bert LeBonte.   Kristy, disappointed by her dismal failure to achieving a holiday romance, continues to foist herself on a completely disinterested tour guide, Juan Fernando, played with gusto and excellent comic timing by Fayssal Bazzi.

Brigid Gallacher and Marg Downey - Jeff Busby

Comparing this whimsical comedy with fanciful very early works from the extensive and varied Katz Canon the most significant difference is that Timeshare contains more coherently expressed meaning/message.  This comparison highlights how far Katz has come in the last decade and an half as a developing/maturing playwright. 

Timeshare is a well-crafted, funny and weirdly quirky work that surprises with a compelling exposition.  This is unanticipated and gratifying as it adds rich dimension to a kooky but already satisfying work.  The whole, with all its anomalies, is well honed together and effectively and efficiently managed by Director Oliver Butler.  There can be no doubt that he gets Katz’s fleeting imagination and entrancingly light touch.

Fayssal Bazzi and Marg Downey - Jeff Busby

However on two or three occasions there are some dull and possibly unresolved moments where everything seems lose drive and become static.  These moments could be justified within the overall rickety reality but they do allow for slippage in attention.

Marg Downey and Bert LeBonte -Jeff Busby

Marg Downey manages a difficult role capably and convincingly.   Brigid Gallacher shines and elicits much laughter in her contrasting roles of dutiful and somewhat long suffering daughter Kristy and passionate and ambitious dancer Maria.  Fayssal Bazzi is fabulous as Juan the Latin tour guide but not quiet as convincing as Gary, Sandy’s straight and well-meaning son.  All performers are required to have their characters waft away into light and lyrical song.  All the singing is enjoyable but Bert Le Bonte’s voice enchants.

Music by Jethro Woodward is great and Dale Ferguson’s set allows for all the changes and nuances of atmosphere that are skillfully achieved by Paul Jackson’s enriching lighting design.

Great fun – a really enjoyable production.

Suzanne Sandow

(For Stage Whispers)