The Amateurs
BY JORDAN HARRISON
Directed by Susan O’Toole Cridland
16th November - 9th December, 2023
About the Play
An itinerant troupe of actors attempt to outrun the Black Plague in The Amateurs, a 14th century-set play by Jordan Harrison. We are thrown into the tragicomedy of a Morality play, experiencing a version of what dominated Western theatre during the Medieval period. Complete with masks and biblical narratives these low status actors rehearse their plays. Stepping in and out of character, we are curious about where this play could take us. The arrival of a mysterious outsider sends Hollis, the leading lady, in search of answers and the14th century plague begins to look like another, more recent one. This inventive and funny new work becomes even more curious when the fourth wall is broken and out steps the playwright.
The play winds back to the tour of Italy — performing not just “Noah’s Ark,” but also those crowd pleasers “Cain and Abel” and “The Fall of Man”. It is a desperate attempt to keep a step ahead of the plague. The theatre troupe do not always succeed. “Half of everyone we’ve ever known,” says Rona, a disgruntled actor, “is in the ground now.”
CAST
Larking | Matthew Filkins
Hollis | Maddie Armit
The Physic | Isaiah Harrison
Gregory | Greg Scurr
Rona | Lia Davies
Brom | Max Phythian
CREW AND CREATIVES
Susan O'Toole Cridland | Director
Cale Dennis | Assistant Director
Laraine Griffiths | Stage Manager
Ella Bromback | Production Assistant
Russell Jensen | Lighting and Sound Designer
Kim Phillips, Tim Cridland, Dan Kennedy | Set Designer
Julia Cox | Costume Designer
Reviews
“Life, death, art, and the search for purpose twist together in Jordan Harrison’s compelling tragic comedy The Amateurs, directed by Susan O’Toole Cridland and superbly performed at Ad Astra”
Elise Lawrence - Backstreet Brisbane | Read full review here
“The theatre in-jokes abound, and Susan O’Toole Cridland directs with a fast pace that doesn’t detract from the depth of performance possible from her superb cast.”
Beth Keehn - Stage Whispers | Read full review here
“The theatre in-jokes abound, and Susan O’Toole Cridland directs with a fast pace that doesn’t detract from the depth of performance possible from her superb cast.”
Yasmin Elahi - Queensland Stage Critics | Read full review here
“The Amateurs’ is hysterical, sorrowful and thought-provoking… Under the masterful direction of Susan O’Toole Cridland, the cast of six are a force to be reckoned with.“
Lachlan Boyes - Magic Ant Network | Read full review here
