Daylight Saving
by Nick Enright
2001 – 2002 National Tour
October 19 – December 1, 2001 – 6 week tour to 14 venues in VIC, QLD, NSW
Moonee Ponds, Melbourne, Newcastle, Toowoomba, Parramatta, Mildura, Traralgon, Warragul, Bairnsdale, Warburton, Werribee, Ararat, Colac & Warrnambool.
February 15 – May 3, 2002 – 11.5 week tour to 31 venues in TAS, VIC, NSW, SA, WA
Hobart, Hamilton, Bayswater, Shepparton, Echuca, Bendigo, Swan Hill, Wollongong, Griffith, Wagga Wagga, Wangaratta, Nunawading, Lismore, Taree, Gosford, Orange, Bathurst, Frankston, Mt Gambier, Renmark, Port Pirie, Whyalla, Kalgoorlie, Esperance, Albany, Mandurah, Bunbury, Perth, Geraldton, Carnarvon & Karratha.
A production by Christine Harris & HIT Productions
“The acutely observant Enright, witty master of theatrical structure and timing, has given us a gem of entertainment, undemanding except in its irresistible appeal to our sense of humour.“
The Australian Jewish News, 1999
Winner of the 1990 Gold Awgie and Best Stage Play Awards, Daylight Saving is set in a house overlooking Pittwater, north of Sydney. The action takes place on two consecutive Saturdays in March, the second of which is the night daylight saving ends and the clocks are put back an hour. Felicity and Tom both have busy lives and demanding careers. Tom is travelling with his petulant protégé Jason, the international tennis star, when Felicity receives a surprise call from Joshua, an American boyfriend from her past. As she plans a candle-lit reunion dinner, her highly stressed neighbour, Stephanie drops in as does her mother, Bunty. The confusion is complete as each of them embroils themselves in Felicity’s evening.
This brilliantly constructed Comedy comes from one of Australia’s most significant Playwrights, Nick Enright. He wrote Lorenzo’s Oil with George Miller, for which they were nominated for Academy and WGA Awards for best Original Screenplay. He also wrote the play and then screenplay for Blackrock and the mini-series Come in Spinner. Blackrock the film and Come in Spinner were both nominated for AFI awards. Many of his plays have been broadcast, and he has also written original work for radio.
Daylight Saving boasts an exceptional cast. Joining the cast as Tom is one of Australia’s favourite sons, Frank Holden. Frank is a well known face on Australian television, most recently seen in Something in the Air and Melbournian’s know him as the presenter of In Melbourne Tonight. Frank’s credits include numerous theatrical performances in productions such as Summer of the Seventeenth Doll and The Rocky Horror Show. Film roles include The Odd Angry Shot and Return Home for which he was awarded an AFI award. Joining Frank as Felicity, Tom’s wife is Glenda Linscott. Glenda’s early roles included the character of Rita in the long running drama Prisoner and more recently we’ve seen Glenda in her long running role as Toosie in Murder Call and Janus. Glenda’s theatre repertoire includes Women of Troy and Steaming. Felicity’s old flame, Joshua is played by Joe Petruzzi a favourite of HIT Productions having starred in our 2000 Australian tour of Hotel Sorrento. He is well known for his long running role as Bernie Rocca in the television series Stingers and recently in the telemovie On the Beach. Tom and Felicity’s neighbour, Stephanie is played by Michelle Pettigrove who is most recognised for her long running role as Kate Bryant in A Country Practice and most recently for Something in the Air. Michelle is currently presenting Foxtel’s children’s program Funhouse and as a cabaret performer she has worked for approximately seven years with The Funky Divas. Given that the themes of Daylight Saving revolve around family and marriage it is fitting that Michelle’s inclusion in this cast sees her working with husband and professional colleague Frank Holden.
Bunty, Felicity’s interfering mother is played by Maggie King who has enjoyed a prestigious career. Her role in the Australian film The Big Steal saw her nominated for an AFI award and her extensive theatre repertoire includes Harp in the South, Steaming and Nunsense. Completing the cast as Jason is Christopher Parker who has recently graduated from WAAPA.
The Daylight Saving creative team consists of Director, Babs McMillan, Set Designer, Richard Roberts, Costume Designer, Judith Cobb and Lighting Designer, Rachel Burke. Babs McMillan an accomplished Director (MTC, QTC, Playbox and Marian Street) and Actor (TV – Prisoner Film – Oscar & Lucinda, Babe – Pig in the City), directed Robert Hewett’s Goodbye Mrs Blore for HIT Productions in 2000. She was the Associate Director of Buddy – The Buddy Holly Story on the Australian tour and is currently Director of Drama at The National Theatre, St Kilda. Richard Roberts has held long term positions with both the MTC (Resident Designer) and the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (Head of Design). His successful freelance career has seen him design for most of the major theatre companies along with feature film and mini-series work. This year he received a Green Room Award for his design work for the MTC’s acclaimed Life After George. The costume design for Daylight Saving comes from Judith Cobb who has worked extensively for the Playbox Theatre and the MTC. Judith has designed set and costumes for HIT Productions’ tours of Hotel Sorrento, Girl Talk and Love Child. Rachel Burke has worked extensively with HIT Productions on their inaugural production Duet for One, Goodbye Mrs Blore, Girl Talk and Love Child and was awarded the 1998 Green Room Lighting Design Award for Hotel Sorrento, other work includes lighting design for The Australian Ballet and the STC.
HIT Productions’ Founder and Managing Director, Christine Harris is the Producer of Daylight Saving. Christine is an award-winning actress (Amy Carson in Carson’s Law and numerous other television roles) and businesswoman. She was the recipient of the 1997 Victorian Entrepreneur of the Year Award, 1998 National Small Business Owner Category winner in the Executive Woman of the Year Awards and an inductee into the 1999 Businesswomen’s Hall of Fame.
HIT Productions has secured itself as a major theatrical touring force. This is substantiated by the company’s 40 weeks of touring this year with its record breaking tour of Girl Talk starring Jacki Weaver which toured to 69 venues (2000 – 2001), it’s critically acclaimed tour of Love Child, Daylight Saving and Music 2001. Similar projections are forecast for next year.
Reviews
“With wit and insight Daylight Saving captures the absurdity and confusion of everyday life, turning the norm on its head and laughing at the consequences.“
CitySearch (online), Melbourne, VIC, 10/01
“Daylight Saving was first performed in Perth more than a decade ago but it’s a play that wears well, especially with this talented cast… it is insightful enough and has plenty of laughs…“
Ron Banks, The West Australian, Perth, WA, 04/02
“It is a wonderfully controlled chaos without needing an anchor… every actor is rock solid in their mania…“
Phil Kafcaloudes, ABC News Radio, Melbourne, VIC, 11/01
“This tightly-knit ensemble cast has a keen sense of comic timing under the adroit direction of Babs McMillan, providing lighting-hearted entertainment.“
Post Impressions, Perth, WA, 04/02
Cast
Tom: Frank Holden
Bunty: Maggie King
Felicity: Glenda Linscott
Jason: Christopher Parker
Joshua: Joe Petruzzi
Stephanie: Michelle Pettigrove
Creatives
Playwright: Nick Enright
Director: Babs McMillan
Set Designer: Richard Roberts
Costume Designer: Judith Cobb
Lighting Designer: Rachel Burke