Our play for June was “Room to Move” by Hannie Rayson. The play is set around Melbourne suburbs in the 1980s. It is a great script that makes a great foundation for a good night out at the theatre. Its plot has a strength based on its simplicity, telling the story of 29-yearold lodger, Bernie who moves in with 62-year-old widow, Peggy. She is looking for company and he is looking for refuge. Meanwhile, Peggy’s children, Virginia and Roger, are just looking for a drama to deflect from their own problems.
The script mostly involved interaction between pairs of people – for example Peggy and Bernie, Roger and his wife, Virginia and her partner, or other combination of pairs. On stage it would probably be set up as three different zones, with each highlighted when a particular pair of people is involved.
No character had more involvement which made it an excellent choice for a play reading as no-one had a greater role. It was interesting though to as we had to concentrate on when the focus moved from one pair to another.
One cultural point brought out during the play was around the issue of problems felt by a couple when the male is not the breadwinner in the family. Interestingly, this was also an issue in our last play, “The Prisoner of Second Avenue”. Many of our plays have involved issues that are still pertinent today and this was no different.
A play enjoyed by all
Joy Shirley
The script mostly involved interaction between pairs of people – for example Peggy and Bernie, Roger and his wife, Virginia and her partner, or other combination of pairs. On stage it would probably be set up as three different zones, with each highlighted when a particular pair of people is involved.
No character had more involvement which made it an excellent choice for a play reading as no-one had a greater role. It was interesting though to as we had to concentrate on when the focus moved from one pair to another.
One cultural point brought out during the play was around the issue of problems felt by a couple when the male is not the breadwinner in the family. Interestingly, this was also an issue in our last play, “The Prisoner of Second Avenue”. Many of our plays have involved issues that are still pertinent today and this was no different.
A play enjoyed by all
Joy Shirley
Our play on Wednesday July 3rd at 9:30am is “Breath of Spring” by Peter Coke. We did read this one a few years ago (in 2018!) and it was quite good.
Shirley Swallow
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