www.shortandsweet.org/sydneyShort+Sweet Sydney 2014

Our final week at King Street Theatre is over. We were brought to a close by two of the best shows Short+Sweet has seen in a long time – the People’s Choice Showcase and the Wildcards Finals. The equal winners of the Showcase have been invited to the Galas, along with the Judges’ Choice and the People’s Choice of the Wildcards Finals.

People’s Choice ShowcasePeople’s Choice (no judges!)3rd place – Irish Stew1st place – Guided By Voices1st place – Therapist

Therapist and Guided By Voices have been invited to the Gala Finals at Seymour Centre on the 21 Mar as the Overall People’s Choice Winners (equal 1st!).

Wildcards FinalsJudges’ Choice3rd place – Sacred Profane2nd place – The South Afreakins1st place – The Blue Balloon

The Blue Balloon wins a spot in the Gala Finals at Seymour Centre as the Overall Wildcards Winner.

People’s Choice3rd place – A Day Out With The Mates2nd place – The South Afreakins1st place – Stalemate

Stalemate wins a spot in the Gala Finals at Seymour Centre as the Overall Wildcards People’s Choice Winner.

Get your tickets to the Galas now:www.seymourcentre.com/events/event/short-sweet-gala-2014

Full Report

People’s Choice Showcase1. The first play to reach the People’s Choice Showcase and the first play in the showcase was “Therapist” by Canberran John Lombard. Directed and Co-Directed by the world’s nicest people, Rob and Leah White, this play starred Rowena McNicol as Mary and Richard Carwin as Tom. Lies, deception, lust and romance. The old story of boy meets girl, boy likes girl, girl becomes boy's 'therapist'? Will girl be able to help boy? Is there happy ever-after for these two? It came equal first in the vote and has been invited to the Gala Finals on Fri 21 Mar from 7:30pm at Seymour Centre.

2. The second play was one of the Wildcards People’s Choice favourites: “Terminal Journey”. Caleb is taking his wife Louise on a romantic trip

across Canada and Italy. He’s carefully packed the guidebooks, clothes, toiletries – and also Louise. At least there won’t be any arguments over who gets the window seat. Or will there? Jessica Anderson wrote this play, with Nick Field directing James Belfrage, Clare Tamas and Nicolas Francois.

3. From Top 80 Week 7 was “The Sound Of Your Own Voice”, written by Rhys Cohen and directed by Bendeguz Devenyi-Botos from Bendeguz Industries. Bedroom philosophy on a balcony. Two boys, some weed and a summer night. Masturbation, high-school, sex, self-awareness and family turn just another conversation into something altogether different. It starred Patrick Richards and Michael Brindley.

4. Another one of the Wildcards People’s Choice winners was “Casey And Adam”, written by Maggie Rose and directed by Nicola James. Casey is freaking out, something's wrong. The internet says it, so it must be true... She's hysterical. “Casey And Adam” was 10 minutes of mayhem and hilarity as two twenty something’s come to grips with doctor Google’s diagnosis. It starred Heidi Baleisis as Casey and Oscar Morphew as Adam.

5. From Week 8 was Cary Pepper’s “Irish Stew”. Getting on in years, Lauretta and Carlton are losing their facility with language. And their short-term memory isn’t what it used to be. But years ago they made a decision to not rage against it. So, physically agile but mentally short a few key nouns, they let it take as long as it does to find the shoe Lauretta keeps asking for. Aishveryaa Nidhi directed Owain James as Carlton and Ann Elbourne as Lorretta. “Irish Stew” came third in the People’s Choice vote.

6. Week 6’s entry to the Showcase was “What If?” by Sarah-Jane Daniel, with Glen Waterhouse directing. ITC Seaward Productions presented the writer and director on stage. The greatest relationship you never had.

7. The third play from the Wildcards season to be invited to the People’s Choice Showcase was “One Wedding And A Betrayal”, written by Susan Cullen and directed by Tara Gallop-Brennan. A comically tragic tale of a younger brother with a crush coming back to haunt him. JD is reliving the tale of his older brother’s marriage. Given the job of DJ, is that really where he will do the least damage? It featured a fantastic performance from Jack Gow as JD.

8. From Week 5 was “Thatcher Vs God”, a comedy by Genevieve Mortiss which Debbie Smith directed. Margaret Thatcher is summoned to have a little chat with God to talk about her time on Earth and to explain all her good deeds. Independent Theatre Company FAT (Female Actors theatre) Productions presented Sandra Bass as Margaret Thatcher and James Belfrage as God.

9. From Week 2 was “Spaceman And Executioner”, written by Tristram Baumber and directed by Geraldine Aegerter. Men come from Mars, women from Venus – even in outer space. G Theatre presented Dudley Levell as the Spaceman and Ebony Louise Halliday as the Alien.

10. Week 4’s Showcase entrant was “Prick”, written by Gina Cohen and directed by Jeremy Godwin from She'll Be Right

on the Night Theatre Company. The company's CEO lies dead in a box. His wife grieves. Was this a case of foul play? Was his epipen withheld from him? Will the intrigue be revealed as a third player enters the parlour? Performed by the writer and director!

11. Our final show was week three’s “Guided By Voices”, written by Canberra writer Mark Konik. John is an attractive and successful Marketer. Sally is a cute quirkie chemist. The only big problem with John is his out of control inner voice and his lack of confidence. A witty comedy that laughs at and holds up a mirror to our self-destructive behaviours. Florence Kermet directed Nat Jobe as the Inner Voice, Jamie Merendino as John and Kat Hoyos / Aimee Timmins as Sally. Rosemary Ghazi was assistant director. “Guided By Voices” was equal first in the People’s Choice and also won a spot in the Gala Finals on Fri 21st Mar at Seymour Centre.

All photos © Sylvi Soe and Short+Sweet - www.thirdtree.com.au

Wildcards Finals1. Wildcards 6 brought us “A Day Out With The Mates”, written and directed by Marcia and Debbie Neilson, a mother and daughter team from Mumanbubb production co. Join this cacophony of crazy crims as they serve out a day of weekend detention under the timid watch of Snodgrass, the new attractive field officer. We had an ensemble of Luke Reeves, Alannah Robertson, David Berry, Glenn Wanstall, James Walkman, Richard Littlehales , Pauline Gardner, Les Davidson , Kerry Pearson and Robert Brennen. The play came third in the People’s Choice vote.

2. The second People’s Choice entrant to the Wildcards Finals was “Crossroads”, written by Victoria Vinson and directed by Emmanuel Nicolaou. ITC Crash Test Cronulla presented Michael Gooley, Jacqueline McFarlane and Michael Smith. On the day of his wife's funeral, an old man reflects upon a difficult decision he made years earlier when he was a young soldier at war, this decision would send him on his life’s path, but was it the right one?

3. Third up was Wildcards 8’s clear winner. “The South Afreakins” was written and performed by Robyn Paterson and directed by Nathan Straker from ITC Impi Theatre Company. Helene and Gordon are stuck. Stuck in South Africa and in the same old armchairs. One of them is desperate to immigrate while one won’t leave his milk tart. Sure, the grass is always greener but home is always home. This wonderful play just missed out on the Galas with second places in both the People’s Choice and Judges’ Choice votes.

4. Another People’s Choice entrant to the Wildcards Finals was “Baby Talk” by David Bofinger. It’s all shits and giggles, until somebody giggles and shits! Look into the minds of new born babies, how they view the world and what they think of us “grown up” people. Ebony Halliday directed Kimberly Kelly as Dallas, Nat Backhouse as Connor, Adrian Betros as Jamie and Nicola James as the Nurse.

5. Up next was “Sacred Profane”, written and directed by Kirsty Budding from ITC Contra Entertainment. A religious teacher and a rebellious student develop a mutual fascination and obsession that forces them to reassess their most deeply held values. It starred Gertraud Ingeborg as the Teacher, Katrina Kelly as the Student and Tom Green as the Boy and placed third in the Judges’ Choice.

6. From Wildcards 7 was “The Blue Balloon” by Angie Farrow. Grieving Hugo releases a blue balloon that immerses his city.

The balloon’s presence liberates the inhabitants from the constraints, rules and conventions that limit our experience of life, prompting characters to discover previously unimagined parts of themselves. Cecile Payet directed a cast of Daniel Gorski, Rachael Williams, Ethan Lowinger, Hannah Zaslawski , Anthony White, Lyna Collins, Olga Pagrati, Brooke Doherty and Ivan Kurnia. “The Blue Balloon” was the Overall Wildcards Winner and earned a spot in the Gala Finals held on Fri 21 Mar at Seymour Centre’s York Theatre.

7. Wildcards 4 brought us “Scene One Twenty-Two.” This clever and funny script was written and directed by seventeen-year-old Bokkie Robertson. The play begins with an actor and his female co-star at the premier of their action movie. They're watching along happily until Scene One Twenty-Two (an extremely long winded and graphic sex scene between the two) comes on screen. It starred Celia Kelly and Sam Jenkins.

All photos © Short+Sweet and Sylvie Soe - www.thirdtree.com.au

8. From Wildcards 3 was “God Save The Queen”, directed by Ryder Stevens from Schmendemen Theatre Co. Four tramps living in a garbage tip. Doing nothing. Going nowhere. They need to find a game. This existential and absurdist piece explores the human condition; it offers no solutions but instead confronts an unpleasant truth. The characters create 'games' to give their lives more meaning. The void is broken as the world's big game players’ actions are questioned. The game is taken too far. It was written and performed by Ryder Stevens, Simon Croker, Aaron Lucas and Hugh Morrison.

9. The next play was from Wildcards 5. “Great Expectations In The Office Of Nostalgia” was written by Hilary King and directed by Sam Thomas. Gwen was born with a to-do list: Successful career. Tick. Nice apartment. Tick. Sports car. Tick. Designer dog. Tick. Functional marriage… TBC. Abe is Gwen’s perfect match. The computers at the Department of Relationships, Partnerships and Romantic Entanglements said so. But have they got it right? It starred Michael Sutherland as Sean, Sandy Velini as Mildred, Phoebe Plasto as Gwen and Dave Kirkham as Abe.

10. The final play was “Stalemate”, written by Sally Davies and directed by John Wood. Newcastle Independent Theatre Company Seated Ovation returned for another year to present this play, featuring Emily Daly as Eleanor, Theo Rule as Cookie and Matt Graham as Geoffrey Munch. A wannabe chef faces the biggest culinary challenge of her life that answers the question, how does someone stop from being inappropriate with food? “Stalemate” won the People’s Choice vote and is in the Gala Finals alongside “The Blue Balloon” on Fri 21 Mar at Seymour Centre.

The main season is over, with the amazing Wildcards Finals and People’s Choice Showcase bringing us to an impressive finish. Four of the best plays have progressed to our Gala Finals, the best 12 productions of Short+Sweet

Sydney 2014. Don’t miss it!

Get your tickets to the Galas now:www.seymourcentre.com/events/event/short-sweet-gala-2014