By Matthew Sims
David Williamson’s 1981 play The Perfectionist focuses, ironically enough, on the imperfection of people.
Via her theatre company Cast Productions, director Jacqueline Stewart is set to bring the play into 2023 at upcoming performances at Bunjil Place and the West Gippsland Arts Centre.
The performances will be Stewart’s first foray into directing a long-form play and will also be her return to directing after welcoming her children into the world.
“I generally don’t do things by half,” she said.
“I’ve basically invested everything in this.
“I’ve got a particular vision for the play.”
Narre Warren actor Benjamin Newall plays Stuart, the eponymous perfectionist, toiling away on his PhD.
His wife Barbara (Rebekah Carton) decides that between raising their children and taking care of the house, they need a housekeeper.
The pair find themselves unexpectedly fielding the interest of a young man, prompting them to look at their own relationship and question their life together.
Ms Stewart said the question of if a woman can ‘have it all’ is an ongoing dilemma of modern life.
“It could be put out in any household in Australia,” she said.
“It’s such a current debate.
“That’s why I fell in love with ‘The Perfectionist’.”
Newall said he and the cast are excited to bring theatre back to the South East after the hiatus brought on during the Covid pandemic.
“COVID hit and took a lot of opportunities away,” he said.
“We were kind of forgotten.
“I want the audience to be so involved in it.”
Stuart is a difficult character to inhabit at times, according to Newall, but he said it is rewarding to discover his humanity.
“He’s so many shades of grey,” she said.
“(Williamson’s) written flaws in all of his characters.
Newall said the cast and Stewart are operating on all cylinders in the rehearsal process after quickly hitting it off.
“We were never going to have any issues,” he said.
“Jacqui has been very open to very out of the box ideas.”
Stewart said she is enjoying the free-flowing creative process working with her cast to find the characters between the lines.
“That input is invaluable,” she said.
“There’s discipline but there’s play.”
Newall agreed there will be a spontaneous aspect to each performance.
“No show will be identical,” he said.
“There’s something fun about that as an actor.
“I’m looking forward to it.”
Newall said it is a very emotionally raw play to perform.
“You’ve got the dialogue and the actors,” he said.
“It’s a play with nothing to hide behind.”
Bunjil Place is hosting ‘The Perfectionist’ at 7.30 pm on Friday 4 August and 1pm and 7.30pm on Saturday 5 August, while the West Gippsland Arts Centre will host performances at 7.30pm on Friday 11 August and 1pm and 7.30pm on Saturday 12 August.
To purchase tickets, visit www.bunjilplace.com.au/events or sales.wgac.com.au
