Written by David
Williamson
Directed by Lee Lewis
Griffin Theatre
Company
The Playhouse,
Canberra Theatre Centre to 14 March
Reviewed by Len Power
11 March 2020
In ‘Family Values’, David Williamson gives us an
uncomfortable evening of anger mixed with comedy. His target is the immigration policy in this
country on the detaining and treatment of refugees and our complacent attitude
that allows it to happen.
For his birthday, retired federal court judge Roger, played
by Andrew McFarlane, is planning on a low-key celebration with his wife and
three children. What he gets is anything
but as one of his daughters, a left-wing activist, brings home a new same-sex
partner - an asylum seeker on the run from Nauru. Another daughter and her female partner are
Border Force officers and their very religious son frowns on same-sex
relationships. The stage is set for the
raising of old resentments as well as a clash over current political and
personal values.
David Williamson excels at this type of comedy-drama, taking
character types we can all relate to and putting them at odds in a domestic
situation over a current political issue.
 |
| Andrew McFarlane (Roger) and Belinda Giblin (Sue) |
Performances of the cast of seven are very strong. Andrew McFarlane is very funny as a man
struggling to be the head of the family while being swamped by the strong
personalities around him. Belinda Giblin
is excellent as the wife and mother who finds an inner strength and purpose she
never knew she had.
Jamie Oxenbould is pathetically funny as the religious
Michael with a continuing love of Lego.
Bishanyia Vincent as Noeline and Ella Prince as Emily, the Border Force
officers and partners, give fine contrasting characterisations, one strong and
forthright and the other not as weak as she first appears to be.
 |
| Bishanyia Vincent (Noeline), Sabryna Walters (Saba) and Danielle King (Lisa) |
As the Nauru refugee from Iran, Saba, Sabryna Walters
delivers the most uncomfortable speeches in the play with conviction and skill
and Danielle King as her partner, Lisa, gives a strong in-depth performance as
a well-educated and politically committed woman.
The play has been well-directed by Lee Lewis who keeps it
all moving at a high energy level with well-rounded characterisations on a
simple but attractive set by Sophie Fletcher.
This is a very funny play with a strong message. The character types and their conflicts are a
bit contrived and the overt delivery of political messages gets a bit wearing
at times but overall this is an enjoyable swansong from our most prolific
playwright.
Photos by Brett
Boardman
Len Power’s reviews
are also broadcast on the Artsound FM 92.7 ‘In the Foyer’ program on Mondays
and Wednesdays at 3.30pm.
‘Theatre of Power’, a
regular podcast on Canberra’s performing arts scene with Len Power, can be
heard on Spotify, ITunes and other selected platforms or at https://player.whooshkaa.com/shows/theatre-of-power.
