Hotspur
By Geoffrey Atherden
Starring Ruth Cracknell and Garry McDonald
Drama Theatre, Sydney Opera House
Until December 10
Reviewed by Frank Noakes
Freddy Brown (Garry McDonald) enters stage left, quietly ushering a nocturnal woman visitor from his lodgings in the once grand house, Hotspur. Freddy is an "amiable rogue" (an '80s euphemism for bankrupt former millionaire property developer). His snooty landlady, who's also known better times, Fiona MacPherson (Ruth Cracknell), dislikes him; but then she is just too good to her tenants, as she reminds us.
But Freddy's used car salesperson-like charm does finally beguile Fiona, and to a lesser extent, Marisia Bronowski (Celia de Burgh), the other tenant. Marisia has fled the new Poland — the Poland of the Freddy Browns.
Sometimes scheming Freddy and the musical and sensitive Marisia are allied against the crotchety Fiona — but Freddy's obnoxious self usually gets in the way. The story runs on to a somewhat predictable, but satisfying, ending.
Hotspur has Mother and Son script writer Geoffrey Atherden teaming up again with Cracknell and McDonald — but this is not Mother and Son vintage.
The play, which also features Katrina Foster and Rob Steele, played to mixed reviews in its Melbourne season and is unable to extract uproarious laughter from its audience. Cracknell and McDonald don't disappoint and one is left politely entertained by this joint Melbourne Theatre Company and Sydney Theatre Company production.
However, the end of the play is not the end of the evening's entertainment. Outside the Opera House another, more enthralling show begins with a hundred thousand droplets of light dancing spectacularly on a Sydney Cove set against the impressive pale green backdrop of the Harbour Bridge. The setting would cover the sins of far worse.