It might be a trek but Two Wells never disappoints. This community has been performing live theatre since 1982 and has contributed almost $1,000,000.00 to local community organisations.
This year’s script was produced by first-time writer Philip Moore who performs the role of Blue Clown and is also Vice President for the company. This witty and clever offering continues the trend of Melodrama for Two Wells and strongly encourages audience participation. In fact, the more the audience participates, the more the cast mis-behave.
The story revolves around the Onewell Gallery (Art not Theatre although I could be confused). The curators Dorothy Jack (which we are constantly being reminded is pronounced Jacques) is a pretentious, money hungry, do anything for a quid character played by Erna Collins, whilst Althea Barlowe (Anne Arbon) is in it for the love and as we soon find out lost love.
The Gallery has many displays of Realism Art with Family Portraits of nobility, Landscapes and Human Statues scattered throughout the wonderful set, however they decide to bring in a controversial Cubism piece which sets some hearts a flutter. Wait, did I neglect to mention that the Artwork comes alive when humans are no longer present? Yes, this could easily be another “Night At The Art Gallery”.
Chester played by Hayden Arbon (yep Anne’s son in life and the gallery) is the expert on all things art in the gallery – except that they are alive. Lonergan played by Nick Algar as the janitor – who does know they are alive, and by the way, he’s the long lost presumed dead partner of Althea Barlowe.
Confused yet, we have only just begun. I did mention it was a Melodrama didn’t I.
Next we have Percival, Duke of Bolivar and his sisters Lady Marguerite, Lady Elenore and Lady Louisa. These are performed by Adam Roling, Alex Bernhart, Emma Sharpe and Sky MacDonald respectively. Percival is utterly dismayed when two of his sisters fall in love, Marguerite with Blue Clown and Elenore with Chester. To him, their interest is beneath them and not just because they are hanging on a wall.
Enter the baddies of the piece. Maurice Frobisher (Johnny Cavallaro) is the rich man about town who just has to have the Blue Clown piece and enlists the assistance of Nic (Janene Lynn) and Rob (Lance Grant) to steal it for him.
The “Unfinished Sisters” are statues who you guessed it, were never finished and that is a whole other sub-plot. Faye (Kay Boon) em-bodies her role magnificently and Kate (Theresa Moore) is a dab hand at treading the boards.
Our last three characters to round out the production are Detective Delaney (Sam Batson) who is sent to investigate the break in that didn’t steal anything, The Informant (Paul Schmelzkopf) who has quietly seen and heard everything and the final member of the Two Wells Family (in more ways than one), playing Matthew Hannigan/Lonergan/Dad to Chester – 40 years on is Robert Arbon.
The Two Wells Melodrama Group like many groups around South Australia is very much a family, whether by blood or through the love of performing. Their performances are always a fabulous way to leave your troubles behind for an afternoon of fun and good food.
Sadly this year’s season has sold out but put it in your calendar for next year – dates will be 4th – 30th May 2027. A night not to be missed.
