Presented by: St Jude’s Players
Reviewed: 22 April, 2023
“Fasten your seatbelts! It’s going to be a bumpy night”. Undeniably one of the most famous of quotations from the Golden Period of Hollywood and uttered by an undisputed queen and diva of the screen, the late great Bette Davis in the 1950 classic All About Eve. The current St Jude’s Players’ production based on Joseph L Mankiewicz’s screenplay and adapted by Director Olivia Jane Parker is stylish and very evocative of the period, but on the day this reviewer saw it (the first Saturday matinee) was ever so slightly ‘bumpy’ in patches. Mainly in diction and forgotten lines. The very American, and one middle European, accents were acceptable but maybe too good in that some were so heavy they were killing the clarity of the lines a lot of the time.
Parker’s direction captures the 40s setting well, but some of her adaptation seems unnecessary slowing the action down at times and one character seems superfluous – they only need to be mentioned rather than seen. But the overall production is wonderfully nostalgic and classy thanks to Parker’s vision, superb hair styling of all the cast by Katherine Stevens and Suzanne Lowe, and very authentic costuming by Rosemary Taylor and Anna Siebert, aided by Jill Wheatley and Meredith Harvey.
The story is perhaps the original ‘backstage’ drama and quite possibly one of the first stories to look at identity theft and certainly powerplay and manipulation. Supposed down-on-her-luck Eve Harrington (Leah Lowe) idolises and eventually replaces Broadway star and diva, Margo Channing (Rebecca Kemp).
Lowe plays the many facets of Eve beautifully. The audience is never quite certain at the beginning of the play whether to believe anything that comes out of her mouth or not, but we soon realise what is going on (if only Margo would!). Lowe not only delivers the lines and emotions perfectly, but acts with her facial features every second of the play. In particular, watch carefully her smiles throughout.
Kemp plays the consummate Broadway Diva with style and panache. The audience have to see a change in her and do easily. She, like Lowe, covers the many facets of the character sublimely and succinctly. Her delivery of the famous ‘seatbelt’ line is very nicely understated and her drunkenness is appropriately unsettling.
Kemp and Lowe are supported well by the rest of the cast (even though the male roles seem to come across somewhat static and rather wooden), but in particular by Angela Short, Deborah Walsh and Joanne St Clair. The stage experience and understanding of character from all three of these ladies is excellent.
Watch out for clever little clues that Parker has dotted the play with. Also, look out for young 14 year old Zoe Battersby whose character at the end is vital and who, throughout the show, delightfully sets the scenes (literally) for us.
Although a little ‘bumpy’ in parts, overall, this All About Eve is all about entertaining and does just that – so fasten your seatbelts, it’s going to be a good night out at St Jude’s.
Reviewed by Brian Godfrey
Venue: St Jude’s Hall – 444 Brighton Rd, Brighton
Season: Until April 29
Tickets: From $20
Bookings: https://www.stjudesplayers.asn.au/whats-on/
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