This very funny play is being presented by the Harbour Theatre Inc. at the Camelot Theatre within the Mosman Park Memorial Hall, 16 Lochee Street, in Mosman Park.

The two-hour performances run until Saturday 24^th September. Curtain up at 7.30 pm. There are matinées on Sunday 18^th and 25^th at 2.00 pm.

The scene is Bill’s flat – designed by Kirstie Francis. The set is one room, a kitchen / dining area / sitting room / office; a typical male flat, a tip with carefully organised stacks of books and papers everywhere (Props Grace Hitchin and Brian Mahoney). A solidly constructed, impressive and well-finished set.

The lighting was rigged and operated by Rob Tagliaferri. The ‘in demand’ sound operator was Vanessa Gudgeon, who just finished at Melville Theatre last week.

        The front door of the flat opens, and boring Bill (Jarrod Buttery), a dreary statistician deserted by his wife, staggers in. His pal, a struggling author, Leon (Alan Morris), accompanies him. Feeling sorry for Bill, who seems to lead the life of a recluse, lecherous Leon took his lonely friend out for meal to celebrate his 50^th birthday.

      As they are chatting, Leon produced his birthday gift to Bill – an envelope purchased from a numinous gypsy. Inside is a form from a dating service, with ten questions to be completed. Bill looks at the form and gasps. These questions ask for the ten qualities Bill would most like to see in the ideal partner. Bill rejects the present saying that he is quite happy as he is; but Leon, having paid quite a few dollars for this introduction service, insists that Bill completes it. Leon is helpful, but his ideal woman seems somewhat different to that of Bill.

     Within hours, there is a knock on the door. Standing there is a stunning, smartly dressed woman – Justine (Cassandra Gorman) – exactly as requested by Bill. However, have all of his dreams really come true?

Director, Kirstie Francis can be relied upon to give the audience a well-crafted play. With this wonderful cast, who did not miss a beat, we were treated to a smile and belly laugh every minute. The script is not a farce, but a well-written dialogue that flowed beautifully. There were numerous twists that lead to pandemonium with the men, and several severe mood swings from Jasmine. The chemistry between the three actors was amazing, and Cassandra’s performance in the second Act was superb.

I have recommended his play to several friends already. It is a short season, so do not miss out.

Exceptionally funny script, perfectly delivered by a well-proven cast of comedy actors.

This 90 minute, strange but very funny, black comedy is being presented by the Harbour Theatre Company in the Camelot Theatre Complex, 16 Lochee Street, Mosman Park.

The curtains rise on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday nights at the early start of 7.30 pm until 14^th May. There are Sunday matinees on 8^th, 14^th and 15^th at 2.00 pm.

This show has no interval.

The opening scene (designed by Peter Kirkwood, Nicola Bond) is the middle class home of Kenneth and Hilary in the London suburbs. The stage apron acts as the working class home in East London, of Cockney Laura. The set is almost cellar like, with threatening black walls and blood smeared over them. Next to the proscenium arch were three metre paintings of a blood covered knife and fork (Melissa Bassett).

The scene is the dining room, with fine wooden tables and chairs (Grace Hitchin, Brian Mahoney). Most of the props, food and furnishings are left to the audience’s imagination – and surprisingly, it works very well.

The simple set décor was a wise decision, as it allowed the audience to follow the richly written script without distraction. The reliable team of Rob Tagliaferri on lights, and Vanessa Gudgeon on sound, worked well, showing subtlety succeeds.

       Today is Kenneth and Laura’s third wedding anniversary, and to Laura’s horror, Kenneth has accepted an invitation from his ex-wife Hilary to go around for a meal. The atmosphere is very tense and uncomfortable.

      We then flashback about four years.

      At a friend’s birthday party middle-aged, philandering Kenneth (Jarrod Buttery) finds himself in the arms of Laura (Cordelia Clarke), a leggy beauty half his age. His poor wife Hilary (Meredith Hunter) has numerous domestic talents, but for Ken her body after 20 years of marriage has collapsed, and in the sack she is stale and boring.

       How will this trio’s relationship develop?

Under the direction of the multi-award winning team, Peter Kirkwood and Nicola Bond – who have presented a couple of dozen memorable plays for Harbour over the years – these three most experienced actors were at their best. Jarrod as the unashamed letch, Cordelia as the gullible young woman and Meredith – outstanding – as the poor abused wife. They all delivered their lines with conviction and emotion. 90 minutes non-stop, with all three on stage continuously, is a big ask, but they had perfect pace, beautiful intonation and their expressions spoke volumes. Top notch acting.

You know that the actors’ acerbic comments are successfully getting through to the audience, when, like last night, one lady shouted out ‘Kill him’, and I think if the ending wasn’t to her liking she would have obliged.

Great fun, try and catch it.