A secret that needs to be screamed

04 May 2006

A Long way from his regular appearances on ABC TV's children's series, Playschool, Andrew McFarlane will have to keep his concentration keen for his role in English playwright Simon Mendes da Costa's black comedy, Losing Louis, to open at the Ensemble Theatre on May 12.

To be directed by Andrew Doyle, this Australian premiere will also feature George Spartels, Amanda Muggleton and Linden Wilkinson, with McFarlane pointing to the dual time scheme to test actors' wits.

"It's about an English Jewish family, set in one room but in two times: 1956 and 2006,'' he said. "Scenes flow from one time to the other so it's hard to keep a track of what time it is. When he was six-years-old, Tony, while hiding under his parents' bed, saw something he shouldn't have seen.''

Now, 50 years later and a grumpy middle-aged man, Tony (George Spartels) is back for the funeral of his father and to confront his family.

"I play Tony's younger and more successful brother, Reggie, whose life has the outward appearance of perfection.

"Losing Louis shows audiences how the actions and decisions of the past impact on what happens in the future.

"I think it's a bit of a mystery play as well as a twisted comedy not a traditional black comedy.

"The audience gets to see the reason why the characters behave the way they do.

"It's incredibly well structured and it has the ring of truth.

"Some things are said that shouldn't be said and some things are kept secret that are screaming to be said.''

Source: www.northshoretimes.com.au