THE PAIN KILLERwritten by Francis Veberdirected by Joan Moriarty18 NOV - 4 DEC 2010Weeknights and Saturday at 8:00pmSundays at 2:00pmAbout the playThe further misadventures of Monsieur Francois Pignon of "The Dinner Game". The lovelorn Pignon is holed up in a Montpellier hotel with suicide in mind. In the adjoining room a hit man is poised to complete his latest assignment. Caught between these total opposites is the hapless concierge, who is desperate to finish his shift before disaster strikes. To complete the chaos there is an estranged wife, a psychiatrist, policemen and mistaken identities. It all climaxes to a breakneck pace. A fun end of season play! 3CR's Curtain Up Reviewby John Gunn November 19, 2010 As an end of the year romp Heidelberg Theatre Company offer us the continuing adventures of that little sad sack Francois Pignon, which all started in the play "The Dinner Game". This time Francois is contemplating suicide as his wife has left him for her psychiatrist Dr. Wolf. After a futile phone call to estranged wife Louise to effect reconciliation, Francois is planning to hang himself in the bathroom of the hotel where he is staying. Unfortunately, next door is a hit man "Ralph' who, with a telescopic rifle, is preparing to 'take someone out' via his hotel window - he becomes Francois's unwilling saviour. Now there's not a lot to the plot but lots of frenetic coming and going, falling out of windows and yes, mistaken identity. The other characters are the Bellhop, Francois' wife Louise, her new lover the doctor and a cop. Now this type of play could be mind numbing if it weren't for the great ensemble cast: Laurie Jezard - at his comic best as Francois; Bruce Carboon - excellent as the sinister Ralph; John Cheshire - a delight as the Bellhop; Catherine Christensen as Louise, David Creedon as Dr. Wolf and Steve Anastasi in the small role of The Cop. Joan Moriarty has injected the production with pace, energy and splendid comic timing along with excellent diction in the French accents. The set of two adjoining hotel rooms works well, as do the good costumes, props etcetera, lighting and the sound effects of the police sirens. This farcical play makes great demands physically on the two main characters - Francois and Ralph; they struggle on the bed, roll around the floor, almost fall out of the 5th storey windows, get caught in the shutter blind - almost being decapitated - and when Francois tries to commit suicide in the bathroom and emerges, soaking wet, he never misses a beat with his ensuing dialogue and action. Ralph is no slouch either, whether beating up a cop or staggering after he is mistakenly given an injection to calm him down by Dr. Wolf - which should have been given to the hapless Francois... and so it goes. These plays by Francis Veber are very popular in France and have been successfully filmed. Heidelberg Theatre Co's production is excellently directed by Joan Moriarty and played by a very experienced and able cast and with very good stagecraft. The production has much to offer, and it takes Heidelberg out on a light note to end the year. So if you want a night of light-hearted entertainment that doesn't stress the little grey cells then "The Pain Killer" is for you. CAST:
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