When acclaimed director Raymond Omodei was asked to direct at John Curtin College of the Arts, he couldn’t turn down the irresistible invitation to take on one of the finest Restoration comedies, William Congreve’s timeless classic, The Way of the World.
The highly sophisticated comedy was last seen in Perth 25 years ago and, according to Raymond, the play is one of the highest comedy of manners, alongside Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest and Noel Coward’s Private Lives.
“The play is rich in the varied elements of the ‘high style’ with stimulating wit, glittering dialogue, outrageous intrigue, seething satire and exhilarating verbal gymnastics,” he said.
The Restoration masterpiece is being brought to the stage by John Curtin College of the Arts senior Gifted and Talented drama students at the Curtin Theatre in Fremantle.
“What I’m enjoying most about being a Guest Director at the Arts College is that the students have an absolutely unshakeable courage in meeting challenges,” he said.
“By any measure it is not an easy play; in fact it is ranked as one of the most difficult plays to perform, however I was encouraged by the standard of auditions.”
The story revolves around the heiress and ‘fine lady’ Millamant, who, surrounded by numerous suitors finds no-one to match her wit except Mirabell, a consummate gallant. However, in order to marry, the two lovers must foil the various schemes of devious fortune hunters and overcome the implacable opposition of Millamant’s vain and glorious tart-tongued aunt, Lady Wishfort.
“Its world of intrigue, plots and counterplots reminds us that life in 1700 was as vigorous, dangerous and hilarious as it is today,” he said.
Raymond was the Artistic Director of The Hole-In- The-Wall Theatre Company and also the Artistic Director of The Australian Theatre for Young People. He was Resident Director of The Old Tote Theatre Company at the Sydney Opera House (now Sydney Theatre Company) for six years and also the National Theatre Company at The Playhouse.
Interestingly, he commenced his career as a maths and English teacher and became committed to youth theatre in 1964 when he directed his first production at Scarborough Senior High School for the open air production of Oedipus.
The Way of the World is showing at the Curtin Theatre at John Curtin College of the Arts from 29 April to 2 May at 7.30pm with a matinee performance on 2 May at 2.00pm.
Tickets cost $15 for adults, $12 for students and $10 for John Curtin College of the Arts students. School group bookings receive a discount price.
For further information and to purchase tickets for The Way of the World contact the box office, tel 9433 7222 or email sandra.lazzaro@det.wa.edu.au