Following a recent triumphant return season in Sydney, Lambert House Enterprises are presenting their acclaimed new production of Barry Lowe’s much-loved classic Australian play, Relative Merits, at The Butterfly Club this October.
The one-act two-hander has had remarkable success over the years – written in 1993 as a vehicle to showcase the talents of a very young David Campbell, Relative Merits went on to tour nationally followed by a further life as a theatre-in-education staple – always to enormous box office and critical acclaim. During this time actors such as Scott Fergusson and Anthony Cogin joined David as the co-lead.
The play was rewritten and revived in 2013 at the King St Theatre in Sydney’s Newtown and it is this version that will be presented in the intimate surrounds of The Butterfly Club.
Relative Merits is the story of a football hero who suddenly and mysteriously retires from the sport. It is also the story of his homophobic brother and their difficult – but ultimately loving – relationship. The play, set in 1993, is a historical reflection of the times but is made timely again by the current controversy surrounding another footballer under different – but equally disturbing – circumstances.
Celebrating the 26th anniversary of Relative Merits, this production, directed by Porter James, features two outstanding new Australian talents. WAAPA graduate Sam Welsh, who has been making a name for himself of late in the 78 / 91 Treehouse shows, is joined by recent NIDA graduate Isaac Broadbent as his naïve but well intentioned brother. Isaac has most recently starred in Jungle Book at Vaucluse House.
Barry Lowe is an acclaimed Australian playwright and fiction writer whose credits include: The Death of Peter Pan, Dragon Fly, The Great Gatsby, Indecent Exposure, Homme Fatale, Relative Merits, The Barricade, Sal, Dutch Courage, Tokyo Rose, Seeing Things, Rehearsing the Shower Scene from ‘Psycho’ and The Extraordinary Annual General Meeting of the Size-Queen Club.
Relative Merits
The Butterfly Club, 5 Carson Place, Melbourne
Season: 7 – 12 October 2019
Information and Bookings: www.thebutterflyclub.com
Image: Isaac Broadbent and Sam Welsh star in Relative Merits (supplied)