Given that Australians have recently witnessed another political change which has forced examination of the national identity, this revival of David Williamson’s classic work, Travelling North, is a timely one.
Set in the years from 1969-1972 and ultimately leading up to the election of Gough Whitlam, Travelling North captures the themes of change and unrest through the story of Frank (Bryan Brown) and Frances (Alison Whyte). The mother of two adult daughters, the character of Frances is based on Williamson’s mother-in-law, who met a man twenty years her senior and moved north with him. Williamson uses artistic licence to tell their story in a way which remains relevant to today’s audience. The play follows the changing nature of relationships, as Frances struggles with her daughters’ dissatisfaction with her decision to leave and the progressive deterioration of Frank’s health. Despite occasional clunky dialogue, Travelling North is an excellent character study which exposes many of the beliefs still held about our society; from the good neighbour, Freddy (Andrew Tighe), to the small town doctor, Saul (Russell Kiefel), many stereotypes and behaviours are recognisable.
This is the first time Travelling North has been produced by Sydney Theatre Company and, ultimately, it’s a disappointing effort. Granted, it has been plagued by problems, including the late departure of Greta Scacchi, who was to play Frances, as well as opening night date changes and an evacuation of the theatre. However, apart from the impressive set design, lighting and musical score, much of the play has the air of being poorly prepared. Interestingly, the late-recruit Whyte delivers one of the better performances. Apart from several faltering moments in the second act when she is holding her script on set (the audience is pre-warned by the assistant director), Whyte’s delivery, emotional tone and expressions make pleasurable viewing. The chemistry between Frances and Frank is believable, with a solid performance by Brown, albeit one containing a number of stumbles. In the second act, Whyte even manages to create the illusion that she and her two daughters are an actual family, a feat which Sara West (Sophie) and Harriet Dyer (Helen) fail to achieve in the numerous flat scenes where they appear as a duo. On her own, Dyer is entertaining enough as the acerbic elder daughter; West, on the other hand, is completely wooden, giving the impression that she hasn’t quite made the transition back to stage from film. Kiefel hardly has a difficult job to do as the doctor; Tighe’s showing as Freddy lends slightly more to the play overall.
Andrew Upton sticks closely to Williamson’s original concept of the 1970s, with much less creative changes than we’ve come to expect in Sydney’s major theatres. Perhaps this is why it feels lacking in passion. Despite the lack of his usual satire, Travelling North is an accessible play and Williamson fans will likely flock to see it. It’s early in the season and improvements are likely, but this is a mediocre opening to 2014 in Wharf 1.
Rating: 2 ½ stars out of 5
Travelling North
Writer: David Williamson
Director: Andrew Upton
Designer: David Fleischer
Lighting Designer: Nick Schlieper
Composer & Sound Designer: Steve Francis
Cast: Bryan Brown, Harriet Dyer, Russell Kiefel, Emily Russell, Andrew Tighe, Sara West, Alison Whyte
Sydney Theatre Company
Wharf 1 Theatre, Walsh Bay
www.sydneytheatre.com.au
10 January – 22 March
