Mudlark Theatre inc.

by Alex Buzo / directed by Stuart Loone

What the reviewers said:

“Rooted was a theatrical marriage of farce, absurdism and satire.  Loone’s direction of this Australian classic was extremely crisp and secure.  Geoff Dobson, as the hapless Bentley, gave a finely tuned performance.  The empathy he created on opening night was palpable…  Jane Johnson, as his wife, was deliciously wicked and brought to the stage a cool and calculating detachment that was quite complete.  The wonderful ensemble were clearly up to the task of delivering this wickedly off-kilter piece of theatre.  Mudlark may be new to Launceston but it possesses a wealth of experience that was on show last night at the Earl Arts Centre.” 

                                                                 Marcus Bower, The Examiner,  11 October 2007

 “Rooted is a play that has wide appeal, and presents like a shinier Kingswood Country, with the 70s sets, the satirical rapid-fire repartee, and the story of sweet and foolish Bentley who gets rooted by his mates, and his missus as power corrupts and the nice guy gets screwed.   The strong cast of five veterans showcased their talents with grotesque-style characterizations, and they interacted fluently and naturally on the stage. The scenes flowed and the repartee bantered nicely, the comedy created mirth, and the alabaster toned and then wood veneered sets were a treat to behold. All up it was a bloody good show for everyone except that poor bastard Bentley.  Get thee to a theatre with haste and don’t get Rooted again.”

                                                                                                             Clara Murray, SAUCE, Feb 2008

Bentley’s always been lucky.  He’s just won the doubles tennis with Gary, he’s hit the jackpot by marrying a top bird like Sandy and his stereo set has got Richard’s tick of approval.  Yes, Bentley’s always been lucky. 

But now Simmo’s moved in with Bentley’s wife… in Bentley’s new home unit...

A classic piece of Australian ‘new wave’ theatre, Alex Buzo’s free-form farcical drama bitterly satirises those who wield power and root those without it. 

"Deliriously funny and deadly serious, to enjoy it, the playgoer needs no more than a liberated sense of humour and a passionate devotion to all those men of good will and bad luck who are habitually rooted, or uprooted, or booted by the frauds, the phonies, the predators and the perennial winners."  - Eliot Norton, Record American, 1972

10 - 13 Oct @ 8pm, Earl Arts Centre
$25 / $15. Bookings at the Princess Theatre on 6323 3666

Image: Dan Speed, Cheyne Mitchell and Geoff Dobson on the set of Rooted.  Picture by Nicole Jobson.