Tag Archives: Paul Hampton

“Phar Lap – It’s Cingalese for Lightning Y’know”, review March 1977 by Leonard Radic

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“A Stretch of the Imagination” – rave reviews, 1976

“A Stretch of the Imagination”, a one character play by Jack Hibberd, has been staged many times in many places with different actors in the lead. It has become an Australian classic.

In 1976, when staged in the back theatre of the Pram Factory, the character of Monk O’Neill was played by Max Gillies (directed by Paul Hampton); and the play and performance received rave reviews. Copies of three of those reviews appear below. (The play, with the same actor and director, was staged again at the Pram Factory – this time in the front theatre – in Aug/Sept 1977.)

Neil Jillet described the play as “probably the most beautiful Australian play ever written”; Bob Crimeen said “Hibberd’s masterpiece of hallucinations and shattered dreams gives Gillies the chance to prove his mettle in tragic-comedy”; and a writer for the Sunday Press said “This study of a singular man is Australian writer Jack Hibberd at his best …. Max Gillies as Monk O’Neil, is brilliant and gives Melbourne … the performance of the year”.

(“A Stretch of the Imagination” was first performed at the Pram Factory in 1972, with Peter Cummins as Monk O’Neill, directed by Jack Hibberd.)

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“Phar Lap …” brochure (Turf Notes) – 1977

The Australian Performing Group staged “Phar Lap – it’s Cingalese for lightning, y’know”, written by Steve Mastare) (aka Stephen Mastare, Stephanie Mastare and Ess Mastare), at the Pram Factory theatre in March and April 1977.

Director: Paul Hampton. Cast: Susy Potter, Claire Dobbin, Phil Motherwell, Alison Richards, Wilfred Last, Greig Pickhaver. Design: Micky Allen, Carol Porter. Lighting: Ian McKenzie. Original Music: Andrew Bell. Poster: Bob Daly. Props :Ursula Harrison. Costume: Freda Rowed. Sound Operator: Margot Nash.

Below is a copy of “Turf Notes”, a publicity brochure for the programme.

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Theatre Australia magazine – Carlton special – 1977

Theatre Australia cover

Max Gillies – 1977 (Cover photo by Ian McKenzie)

This edition of Theatre Australia contains articles titled:

  • “Ten Years of Carlton Theatre” by Garrie Hutchinson (with photos from 1969 and 1970);
  • “The Many Masks of Max Gillies” by John Larkin;
  • “Carlton Designs” by Peter Corrigan (with photos of sets for the plays “City Sugar”, A Floating World”, “Pecking Orders”, “The Mother”, “Crackers at the Savoy” and “Canned Peaches”.; and
  • Playscript – “Marvelous Melbourne” – Part One, with an introduction by Jack Hibberd on “How Marvelous Melbourne Came to Life”.

pram Factory Advert Theatre Australia

Advertisement appearing in the “Carlton special” edition of Theatre Australia magazine, August 1977

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