Titanic production
EXCITING
As the curtains rise on "Cruise Control" at the Clink Theatre in Port Douglas, it becomes evident why David Williamson holds the title of Australia's most successful playwright.
This production, poised to follow in the footsteps of the immensely popular "Priscilla the Musical," which shattered box office records at the Clink, boasts all the credentials of a potential red-hot hit.
Taking centre stage, the play unfolds as an Australian couple, two Jewish New Yorkers, and a pair of stoic Brits embark on a cruise ship voyage from London, retracing the historic journey of the Titanic.
The confined space of the dining table becomes the crucible where their relationships navigate treacherous waters, mirroring the chilling fate of the infamous ship. Witty and sharp dialogue is the trademark of David Williamson, and he doesn’t disappoint in this seafaring yarn with some tantalizing twists.
Navigating the turbulent waters
Taking the ship's wheel of this wicked tale is Director Nicole Carnaby, who told Newsport: “we are very lucky to have an ensemble of amazingly talented actors involved, and it’s not easy to find talent and people with time in their busy lives to volunteer for Community Theatre,” she said.
Producer Marilyn Davison had a very personal, one-on-one experience with playwright David Williamson and, of all places, aboard a ship and caught him out telling ‘porky pies’.
“When I first met him on board, I didn’t immediately recognize him, but at the captain’s table, he was pretending to be a ship's engineer, but he was just too tall, after all, he’s six foot seven inches (2.01 m), so there’s no way he could fit into some of the ship's nooks and crannies,” she said.
The affable writer eventually came clean but used his shipboard experiences to write "Cruise Control.”
He is the doyen when it comes to hit plays and films. What a resume, "The Removalists," "Don's Party," "Travelling North" (filmed right here in Port Douglas), "Gallipoli," "The Club," "The Year of Living Dangerously," to name just a few.
With ‘Cruise Control,’ he’s at the top of his game, says Director Carnaby: “very smart, snappy, farcical dialogue but storylines that are often very deep and dark underneath the comedy,” she said.
Cast the line
The seven cast members going shore to ship are Narelle Spencer, Kal Zahnow, Caroline Toohey, Stephen Bigby, Troy Miller, Kelda Wray, and Dwayne Pierce. One of those talented actors, Troy Miller, works as a paramedic in our Shire.
Shift work is not conducive to being at rehearsals on time, but Troy's vital lifesaving work must be carried out.
“It’s been hard with the different hours as I’m on call as a paramedic, but we’re getting around it with the help of the whole cast,” he said. "Cruise Control" starts November 23 through to the 25th at 7.30pm with a matinee Sunday, the 26th at 2pm. Chookas, everyone.
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