Wallflowering
By Peta Murray
2004 – 2006 National Tour
February 26 – June 5, 2004 – 14.5 week tour to 43 venues in VIC, NSW, QLD, ACT, WA
Moonee Ponds, Bayswater, Shepparton, South Morang, Echuca, Mildura, Wangaratta, Monash, Frankston, Warburton, Melbourne, Ringwood, Nunawading, Ballarat, Traralgon, Geelong, Taree, Brisbane, Nambour, Ipswich, Proserpine, Mt Isa, Townsville, Orange, Parramatta, Tuggeranong, Swan Hill, Griffith, Dubbo, Gosford, Warragul, Colac, Warrnambool, Horsham, Hamilton, Portland, Perth, Esperance, Albany, Mandurah, Geraldton, Karratha & Port Hedland.
March 9 – April 19, 2005 – 6 week tour to 18 venues in VIC, NSW, TAS, QLD
Moonee Ponds, Sydney, Hobart, Devonport, Camperdown, Wonthaggi, Ararat, Pakenham, Sale, Coffs Harbour, Grafton, Lismore, Toowoomba, Redcliffe, Gladstone, Mackay, Charters Towers & Rockhampton.
July 18 – August 11, 2006 – 4 week tour to 20 venues in QLD
Gympie, Esk, Wynnum, Maleny, Gayndah, Miles, Oakey, Millmerran, Dirranbandi, Mitchell, Charleville, Tambo, Blackall, Barcaldine, Longreach, Winton, Cloncurry, Julia Creek, Richmond & Hughenden.
A production by Christine Harris & HIT Productions
Wallflowering is a funny and poignant play about the nature of marriage and the elusive pursuit of happiness. The play revolves around the lives of Peg and Cliff Small, an ordinary, suburban, middle aged couple who were once prize-winning ballroom dancers. The action is interspersed with ballroom dancing by a younger couple, who represent not only Peg (Noeline Brown) and Cliff (Doug Scroope) in their glory days, but also the older couple’s romantic, idealised view of themselves.
Cliff has dreams of becoming a writer, but can get no further than writing lists of clever book titles. He has always seen himself as gifted, but now faces the realisation that he is, in fact, merely ordinary. Peg on the other hand has always been content in the traditional roles of wife and mother, but with the urging of her friends, begins to read feminist literature and explore the notion of her own extraordinariness. Peg is no longer content to quietly and unquestioningly follow her husband. She wants to lead and sees the possibilities and excitement in change. These changes cause them to be out of step with each other and threaten their marriage. The catalyst comes in the form of an incident at a fancy dress housewarming party, which brings about the realisation that the ties that bind them are strong and presents them with the opportunity to find new steps whilst still moving forward together.
“There is both courage and beauty in the individual who dares to live his or her truth, no matter how ‘ordinary’ it might be. Wallflowering, it is my hope, honours the Cliff and Peg in all of us.“
Peta Murray
Reviews
“The elegant Noeline Brown scores a bullseye performance with her finely judged portrayal of Peg…That both characters win the affection and admiration of the audience is also a credit to director Bruce Myles, who has shaped two engaging and honest performances from this outstanding duo.“
Geoff Gibbs, The Western Australian, WA, 05/2004
“It celebrates their ordinariness and it does it lovingly and with penetrating observation of their lives… Under Bruce Myles’ well paced direction, Brown creates a complex and positive character as Peg unfolds and grows.“
The Mercury, TAS, 03/05
Cast
Peg: Noeline Brown
Cliff: Doug Scroope
Creatives
Playwright: Peta Murray
Director: Bruce Myles
Designer: Anna Borghesi
Lighting Designer: Rachel Burke (2004-2005)
Lighting Designer: Leon Dark (2006)
Choreographer: Tony Bartuccio