Art imitates life in community theatre

Art imitates life in Limelight Theatre’s latest production, featuring a play within a play.

Art imitates life in Limelight Theatre’s latest production, featuring a play within a play.

Written by Rick Abbott and directed by Karen Tropiano, Play On is a comedy about the trials and tribulations of an amateur drama group rehearsing and performing a murder-mystery play.

“The theatre group is offered the chance to put on the royalty-free play Murder Most Foul to help them get their finances back on track,” Tropiano said.

“But the actors keep squabbling among themselves, the author keeps re-writing the script and the technical side of things constantly goes wrong.

“It’s a show that proves if anything can go wrong, it will, and provides a hilarious insight into what sometimes happens before the curtain goes up.”

Act one is a rehearsal of the dreadful show, act two is the near-disastrous dress rehearsal and the final act is the actual performance where everything falls apart.

“The key to making Play On a success is ensuring the bad aspects of a theatre production falling apart are done well,” Tropiano said.

“That might seem easy but it actually requires a lot of skill and discipline from the actors to deliver each disaster properly, matched with the right comedy timing.”

Play On is the fourth directorial outing for Tropiano, after scoring second place at the annual Finley Awards for her musical direction of Nunsense last year.

Just like any community theatre production, there are some relations performing together – although the nepotism wasn’t intentional.

“Christine and Brendan Ellis are playing mother and son in the show, reflecting their real life relationship, but it’s the first time they’ve actually been on stage together,” Tropiano said.

“We’ve also got sisters Kerry Goode and Colleen Hopkins in the show.”

Play On plays at 8pm, September 30, October 1, 2, 7, 8, 9, 14, 15 and 16. Tickets are $18 adults, $15 concession and $10 for children.

Book on 9571 8591 between 9am and midday, Monday to Friday, or online at www.limelighttheatre.com.

Limelight Theatre is located on Civic Drive, Wanneroo.