There is something refreshingly simple in Neil Simon’s play ‘Laughter on the 23rd Floor’. It’s a laugh out loud comedy that perfectly captures the early days of television.
Don’t go looking for deeper meaning or profound insight in this story, it’s just good old fashioned fun.
Sure, you could take a moment to reflect on the comparison between a 1950’s TV show that’s under pressure to get better ratings and cut costs – and today’s media landscape, but I doubt that was at the forefront of Neil Simon’s mind when he wrote the piece.
We’re brought into the story via Lucas Brickman (James Sweeney) the newest writer on a 1950’s TV variety show in New York City. Through Brickam we meet the other writers on the team.
First there’s the creatively dressed Milt Fields (Humphrey Bower) who explains that he wears a cape and beret to ‘be somebody’, at least somebody more interesting. There’s the serious Kenny Franks (Stuart Halusz), Irish writer Brian Doyle (Ben Mortley), who believes his big break is just around the corner, Russian Val Skolsky (Igor Sas) who brings his depressed humour to the table, while Carol Wyman (Jo Morris) is the only female writer in the team and always late to meetings is hypochondriac Ira Stone (Damon Lockwood). All the writers are working to create the best material for star Max Prince (Peter Rowsthorn), while Lara Schwerdt plays the smaller role of secretary Helen.
This is a show filled with big performances, Rowsthorn is larger than life as the star of the show, and shows no fear in going for an over the top performance. Damon Lockwood is superb as the every worrying Ira, he was on stage for a good five minutes before I even registered the well known Perth actor was before us, so complete is his portrayal. Humphrey Bower shows he can do comedy, just as brilliantly as he can deliver drama, while Igor Sas is remarkable as the Russian writer Val.
The show is a combination of all the old fashioned comedy moves, there’s double-entendres, zingy one liners and slapstick moves galore – and it’s incredibly funny.
The set design by Lauren Ross is amazing, the office with large windows and stylish 1950’s furniture puts the action squarely in the 1950’s. As the snow falls outside the windows and the Chrysler Building shines in the distance you are very effectively transported to New York.
Accents are always dangerous territory for a theatrical production, if just one actor can’t nail it a while show can feel off kilter, here every performer is adequately American, an notable accomplishment for accent coach Julia Moody.
For a night of laughs and fun snap up a ticket to this feel good show.
Black Swan State Theatre Company’s production of Neil Simon’s ‘Laughter on the 23rd Floor’ is playing at the Heath Ledger Theatre at the State Theatre Centre until September 21. Head to their website for tickets.
Graeme Watson, images: Gary Marsh
