Daylight Saving

Presenting the final play in their inaugural season at the Eternity Playhouse, Darlinghurst Theatre Company present Nick Enright’s deliciously fast-paced comedy Daylight Saving for a limited season from 31 October.

Set in the late 1980s, Daylight Saving is an Australian romantic comedy about love, loneliness, food and friendship. Felicity has it all; a successful Sydney restaurant, a home with water views and a handsome, successful husband. But with the sudden visit by an old flame, infidelity could be on the cards. Felicity’s plans for a candle-lit reunion go awry when a string of unexpected visitors drop by.

Director Adam Cook (The Motherf**ker with the Hat, A Doll’s House) is thrilled to have assembled a dream cast for this too rarely seen gem. “Sometimes the planets do align and you get what you want,” says Cook. “So here I am directing a wonderfully warm, funny and touching play written by one of my dearest – and most dearly missed – friends, Nick Enright, my mentor, my landlord, my friend.”

“Nick always had clear and decisive opinions about the casting of his plays, and having worked on a number of them with him before, I’m very confident he would have been as happy as I am to have such a brilliantly gifted cast sign on to perform in one of his most popular plays.”

The stellar cast is led by Australian actress and Logie Award-nominee Rachel Gordon (Blue Heelers, The Moodys) and multi award-winning actor Christopher Stollery (Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead, Gross und Klein) as husband and wife, Felicity and Tom.

Playing the role of Josh, an American professor of history and Felicity’s old high school flame, is the charming Ian Stenlake (Sea Patrol, Oklahoma!). Veteran stage and screen star Belinda Giblin (Sons and Daughters, Dark Voyager) will play the role of Bunty, Felicity’s loud, opinionated mother.

Helpmann Award-winner Helen Dallimore (Legally Blonde, Wicked) performs the role of Felicity’s intrusive and clueless neighbour Stephanie, and Jacob Warner (On the Shore of the Wide World) plays Jason, the famous tennis player managed by Tom.

Considered one of Australia’s much-loved playwrights, Nick Enright (1950–2003) trained for the theatre at New York University School of Arts after early experience in Australia including with Nimrod and MTC. He was an actor, director and teacher as well as a writer.

In addition to Daylight Saving, his plays include On the Wallaby, St James Infirmary, Mongrels, A Property of the Clan, The Quartet from Rigoletto, Blackrock, Good Works, Spurboard and A Man with Five Children. With Justin Monjo he adapted Tim Winton’s Cloudstreet for the stage. He has also written for film and television, including co-writing with George Miller the screenplay for Lorenzo’s Oil which was nominated for an Oscar.

He has written a number of musicals including The Venetian Twins and Summer Rain with composer Terence Clarke, and wrote the book for the Australian production of The Boy From Oz.

Among his many awards are two Green Room Awards for Best Play, four Gold AWGIE Awards, the 1998 Sidney Myer Performing Arts Award and the NSW Premiers’ Special Award. As well as being a prolific writer, Nick was a noted acting teacher, particularly at NIDA and WAAPA.

In his honour, the Enright family is supporting Darlinghurst Theatre Company to produce three plays by the renowned Australian playwright, including Daylight Saving in 2014, as well as two other works in 2015 and 2016.

Director: Adam Cook  Cast: Helen Dallimore, Belinda Giblin, Rachel Gordon, Ian Stenlake, Christopher Stollery, Jacob Warner  Production Designer: Hugh O’Connor  Lighting Designer: Gavan Swift  Sound Designer: Nate Edmondson

Daylight Saving
Eternity Playhouse, 39 Burton Street, Darlinghurst
Season: 31 October – 30 November 2014
Bookings: (02) 8356 9987 or online at: www.darlinghursttheatre.com