The Sum of Us
By David Stevens
2011 National Tour
June 4 – November 13, 2011 – 23 week tour to 50 venues in VIC, NSW, ACT, QLD, WA, SA, TAS
Dandenong, Warragul, Traralgon, Pakenham, Moonee Ponds, Nunawading, Wonthaggi, Benalla, Bendigo, Portland, Moorabbin, Drysdale, Swan Hill, South Morang, Ringwood East, Wagga Wagga, Canberra, Nowra, Dubbo, Narrabri, Kensington, Belrose, Parramatta, Taree, Tamworth, Port Macquarie, Coffs Harbour, Tenterfield, Brisbane, Redcliffe, Logan City, Gladstone, Mackay, Proserpine, Ayr, Karratha, Carnarvon, Geraldton, Merredin, Mandurah, Bunbury, Margaret River, Port Lincoln, Whyalla, Port Pirie, Noarlunga, Renmark, Mount Gambier, Devonport & Warburton.
A production by Christine Harris & HIT Productions
The Sum of Us is a bitter sweet comedy about the powerful love between a father and a son. This award-winning play by Academy Award nominee and Australian playwright, David Stevens (Breaker Morant), also became an AFI Award winning film starring Jack Thompson and Russell Crowe.
The humorous but poignant storyline revolves around the devoted and loving relationship between widower (Harry), his homosexual son (Jeff) and their individual searches for a partner. The play illuminates the eternal human need to transcend our separateness, to embark upon the difficult but necessary road to an accepting and loving connection with others.
The search for love and the difficulties faced in accepting people for who they are is the universal theme of this play. The Sum of Us will tour in 2011 to capital city, regional, rural and remote theatre venues across Australia.
Starring one of Australia’s top actors John Jarratt (Wolf Creek/McLeods Daughters/ Better Homes and Gardens), The Sum of Us is a bitter sweet comedy that revolves around the devoted and loving relationship between widower (Harry), his homosexual son (Jeff) and their individual searches for a partner.
The Sum of Us is about a widowed father, Harry Mitchell (John Jarratt), and his 24-year-old gay son, Jeff (Patrick Harvey), and their search for love in working class Melbourne, Australia.
Jeff, a plumber and an avid amateur footballer, wants to get a relationship going with Greg (Glenn van Oosterom), a young public works gardener he met at a local pub. Harry, who has grieved for his late wife for fourteen years, is ready to take the plunge once again and begins dating Joyce (Nell Feeney), a woman he met through a dating service. Harry’s unconditional love and acceptance of his son’s sexuality is a bit too daunting for Greg, whose homophobic father keeps Greg in the closet and wary of the comfortable relationship Harry and Jeff share.
Harry doesn’t tell Joyce about Jeff’s sexuality, despite his acceptance, and when she inadvertently discovers it, she breaks off the relationship with Harry, partially because of her own homophobia, but primarily because Harry kept it a secret from her.
Cast
Harry: John Jarratt
Jeff: Patrick Harvey
Greg: Glenn van Oosterom
Joyce: Nell Feeney
Creatives
Playwright: David Stevens
Director: Denis Moore
Designer: Shaun Gurton
Costume Designer: Adrienne Chisholm
Lighting Designer: Richard Vabre
Composer: Andrew Pendlebury