Staging for a kick

by LES EVERETT

AUSTRALIAN rules football doesn't make its way into theatre all that often. David Williamson's The Club and The Big Men Fly by Alan Hopgood come to mind while Barry Oakley's novel A Salute to the Great McCarthy made it on to the big screen and maybe onto the odd stage.

So the arrival via Griffin and Black Swan theatre companies of Torrez by Perth playwright Ian Wilding is welcome.

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Peter Docker and Marco Chiappi in Torrez.

Torrez, played by the delightfully named Peter Docker, is a retired footballer hoping for a move into TV in a show with "high production values". Docker looks the part, can handle a footy and even has a passing resemblance to Hawthorn captain Shane Crawford.

"Assisting" Torrez in the new stage of his life is his manager Fox, played by Marco Chiappi.

The action takes place in the lounge/bar of Torrez's home and much is revealed during a booze and drug filled night.

Both men are estranged from their wives and Torrez has some particularly interesting views on women. For instance - to give you an example of the ex-star's thinking - if a mate and a mate had a one night stand and one mate got pregnant but it would ruin things for the other mate if word got out then the pregnant mate wouldn't make a fuss - you couldn't expect that kind of consideration from a woman.

Also making an appearance is Andrew James as Adams, a fan who has suffered a great loss.

What stands out in this examination of the seedier side of sporting fame is the wonderful selfishness of Torrez which has developed as a result of his pampered existence.

The language in this play is pretty blue and there's more violence than we normally see on stage - blood is spilled and phones come in for a real battering. It has been referred to as a black comedy but really could do with a few more laughs - black or otherwise - just to lighten the atmosphere.

However, with its biting script and fine performances, Torrez is a satisfying piece of theatre.

Torrez will show at Dolphin Theatre at UWA until July 17 before heading off on a tour of country WA taking in Bunbury on July 19; Albany (July 21); Geraldton (July 24); Paradurdoo (July 27); Tom Price (July 29) and Carnarvon (July 31).

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