Review: Prospect Terrace
Picture: Opening Night Curtain Call (L to R: Samantha Proctor, Natasha McDonald, Steven Grives, and Bernadette Pryde (image credit: Creative Futures Photography)
Prospect Terrace centres on a highly relatable scenario: an elderly parent who wants to continue living in the family home, where the three siblings can’t quite agree on ‘what’s best.’ With themes of inheritance, family secrets, independence, sibling rivalry, thwarted dreams, death, gambling, and real estate… it might just sound as if Prospect Terrace is a recipe for one very depressing and possibly boring evening. However, the PIP Theatre production team has again chosen wisely. Angela Murphy’s amusing play is well-served by Bronwyn Nayler (Director), Jenna Todd (Assistant Director), and by each of the four cast members.
Natasha McDonald (Pepper) rose to the challenge of the role of the real estate agent whose life is a far cry from her desire for a happy relationship with her daughter and a successful career. Without providing too many spoilers, let’s just say that I was impressed by McDonald’s portrayal of Pepper’s decline and return. Samantha Proctor’s interpretation of the younger sibling (Bunny) provided an enjoyable contrast to the life experience of the world-wise Pepper. And Bernadette Pryde played the role of the ditsy Delores with great relish and energy.
However, for me, Steven Grives’s portrayal of Jack was the standout performance of the show. Grieves was absolutely on point in giving the audience glimpses of Jack as a younger, once loveable rogue, whose 80th birthday celebrations brought back memories of his late wife and of those lost in the war (‘I was one of the lucky ones; they went and never came back’)—all bringing into stark reality his own mortality, the often-poor decisions he had made during this life, and the need to make the ‘right’ choices as to how to divide his estate. Let’s just say I’d love to see Steven Grives as King Lear.
This is another PIP Theatre show where I have been really impressed by the ways in which the creatives have used the space. Congratulations on the excellent lighting/image projection (Noah Milne), and fantastic sound (Dan Hallen)—as well as the strong production (Amelia Slatter) and stage management (Ava Moschetti). But particular ‘hats off’ to Brigitte Bennet (Set Design) and Chancie Jessop (Costume Design). The costumes were well-chosen—not only for the character of Dolores, but also in the way the costumes gently charted the different phases of the lives of Pepper, Bunny and Jack. The set was a charming representation of the inside of an aging Queenslander home—where the sound and lighting enhanced the portrayal of the house as a place of memory and lived experience (replete with the soundtrack of creaks, and projected photographs of family life).
At the end of the show, I came away feeling that not all of the elements of farce worked for me, and I wished that the playwright had made a few more edits. For example, I didn’t feel I needed to have a monologue at the end that spelt out all of the bird references and narrated ‘what happened next.’ However, the bird was a nice device to encourage our post-show debate about the continuing life of the house, as I did find myself wondering what happened to that Queenslander, after the sale to the next family who wanted to call Red Hill home.
Verdict: A funny, quirky, play with plenty of food for thought about the impact of the choices we all make in our short lives.
Picture: Steven Grives (Jack) PIP Theatre promotional image (NOTE: NOT a Creative Futures Photography Image)
Audience information: Prospect Terrace (6-22 June 2024), PIP Theatre, 20 Park Road, Milton QLD 4064. 160 minutes (including a 20-minute interval). Allergy warnings: occasional onstage vaping, and feathers. Tickets $35-50.