Ordinary People

adapted from Judith Guest's novel by Nancy Gilsenan

Star Theatres, 145 Sir Donald Bradman Dr, Hilton

May 16, 17; 22,23, 24 @ 7.30

Matinees Sunday 18 @ 4.00;

Saturday 24 @ 2.00

Early Tuesday 20 & Wednesday 21 @ 6.30

Directed by
ROB CROSER

Conrad Jarrett is a regular teenager, living with his parents in suburban Chicago. His father is a successful taxation lawyer, and his mother is a highly-organised member of their social and sporting set. Conrad is a straight-A student, and, like his older brother, Buck, a member of the High School swimming team and keen sailor.

Then, the unthinkable happens - a sudden storm on Lake Michigan changes all their lives forever.

Ordinary People, published in 1976, was author Judith Guest's first novel. It became an instant best-seller, winning the prestigious Janet Heidinger Kafka Prize for Fiction by an American Woman. It immediately attracted the attention of Robert Redford, who chose it as his first film as a director. The resulting 1980 film, starring Mary Tyler Moore, Donald Sutherland and the teenage Timothy Hutton has become a classic, winning 4 Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Screenplay, Best Director (Redford) and Best Supporting Actor (Timothy Hutton).

The novel is taught at High School and University level, as a modern American classic. Nancy Gilsenan's stage adaptation sticks close to the novel (as did the film), focussing on Conrad's journey from the trauma of the family tragedy towards resolution and reconciliation with his family and himself.

They are ordinary people, after all. For a time they had entered the world of the newspaper statistic; a world where any measure you took to feel better was temporary, at best.

FULL CAST

Conrad Jarrett                                        Callum Logan

Calvin Jarrett                                          Fahad Farooque

Beth Jarrett                                            Lyn Wilson

Dr Berger                                               Steve Turner

Joe Lazenby                                           Ryan Kennealy

Kevin Stillman                                      Oscar McLean

Jeannine Pratt                                      Olivia McAdam

Karen Aldrich                                       Cleo Barker

Coach Salan                 David Roach

 

Stage Manager                                     Diana Buratto