Summer of the Seventeenth Doll
2015 marks the 60th anniversary of the premiere of Ray Lawler’s Summer of the Seventeenth Doll, cementing the play as one of Australia’s most iconic pieces of theatre. Hot from finishing a successful season in Adelaide, the State Theatre of South Australia will be bringing the beloved classic to Sydney next week, along with artistic director Geordie Brookman.
In the well-known tale of love, hope and loss taking place during one unravelling Summer, a fragile cane cutter, Roo, is played by Chris Pitman. Garnering much praise for his performances in Adelaide, Pitman credits Australia’s unwavering love for the play to the timeless themes embedded within in it. “I think it’s a very universal thing all over the world,” Pitman says, “what it’s like to have to change in order to keep living well.”
It’s Lawler’s 1950’s themes which director, Brookman, aims to readdress 60 years on. Although Pitman says Brookman remained loyal to the original setting and script, his creative choices enabled for a modern day contextualisation of the play. “(Brookman) has teared back the play. We’ve removed a lot of clutter,” Pitman says, “He’s trying to expose the drama between the relationships on stage.”
May 19 – 24, Glen Street Theatre, Belrose, $31- $71, tickets: http://tiny.cc/jgscyx, or phone (02) 9975 1455.
