I Never Sang for my Father by Robert Anderson
Directed by Warwick Taylor for STAG
Reviewed by John Gunn 19/8/2000 For Curtain Up- 3CR 855 (AM Band) Sunday – 1pm.
It would be approximately 20 years since I last saw Robert Anderson's wonderful play, I Never Sang for my Father and that was at Pumpkin Theatre, with Warwick Taylor and Elizabeth Twining in the roles of ‘Tom' and ‘Margaret Garrison' – also in the cast were Judi Clark and Peter Spackman.
Why more companies haven't looked at this play, I will never know. Seeing it again last night, as produced by STAG and directed by Warwick Taylor, just reinforced what a beautifully written and moving piece of theatre it is. It was also made into a movie in 1970 with Melvyn Douglas and a young Gene Hackman.
The story is about the relationship between 80 year old Tom and his son, Gene, which comes to a head when Tom's wife Margaret dies suddenly, and Gene (himself recently widowed) must decide whether to stay and care for his father, with whom he has had a very unhappy relationship, or leave and go to California, remarry and make a new life for himself. The play also highlights the problems that are experienced by many as their parents get older and perhaps more difficult.
The father, Tom, although providing in the material sense for his wife and two children is, seemingly due to an unhappy childhood himself, rigid and unrelenting, selfish and emotionally ungiving. The son, Gene, who takes after his mother, is softer, caring and is unable to understand, let alone challenge, his successful though entirely self-centred father.
The play is staged in the round and directed with tremendous sensitivity by Warwick Taylor, and is a most rewarding evening at the theatre. It was a pity that it didn't have a larger audience to appreciate its worth.
Simply staged with a minimum of props, underscored with superb music so well thought out, this production cuts right to the core and emotion of the text and I would be surprised if any member of the audience failed to be emotionally involved and moved by it. Also it was an excellent choice, in this instance, to stage the play in a ‘performing space' as opposed to the proscenium type stage.
The cast of nine made for an excellent ensemble, involving and carrying us along until the final curtain. David Crothers, as the crusty and unbending father, Tom, who has never come to terms with his own childhood, was excellent and his character spot on…charming us on the one hand but leaving us aghast on the other with his selfish attitudes.
Robert Urban, as the son, Gene, had compassion and tremendous warmth although his narratives in Act 1 could be further enhanced by a little more vocal projection – remember that the audience is seeing and hearing the play for the very first time, but still a very sensitively crafted performance.
Kris Weber as the daughter Alice, estranged from her father since her marriage, got right to the core of the character – a sterling performance, honest and gutsy, showing the strength of the father without the downsides of his character.
Margaret Rawlinson, as their mother, gave this character sincerity and warmth and was quite moving in her understanding and tolerance.
Good support came from Eve Park, Valina Rainer, Paul Scicluna, Michael Smith and Tony Rainer; also special credit to the crew who moved props in and out unobtrusively, and to lighting and audio operator, Graham Batcheler – lighting was well-timed, and the demanding music underscoring the production was always at a sensitive level, not forgetting the quite clock just ticking away…
To sum up – STAG's presentation of I Never Sang for my Father, as directed by Warwick Taylor, is indeed a fine production that deserves to be seen by many. To the Company, Director, cast and crew – well done and what a treat to see such a good play once again and done so caringly!
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