Perfectionist a modern play

The struggles of marriage, pitfalls of ambition and pains of love will be explored on stage at the West Gippsland Arts Centre next month in "The Perfectionist".
An Australian play by David Williamson, "The Perfectionist" will be performed by professional theatre company Cast Productions on Friday, August 11 and Saturday, August 12.
The play follows Barbara, whose career has been side-lined by the birth of her three children and marital life. Her husband, Stuart, has spent almost a decade trying to finish his thesis, and when Barbara employs a Danish babysitter named Erik, she begins to evaluate the direction in which her life has travelled.
She makes the decision to finish her own thesis and leave Stuart to the household chores and begins to wonder whether women can have it all.
Producer and director Jacqui Stewart said in a multicultural world, watching Australian theatre and supporting Australian culture had never been more important, and Cast Productions was "dedicated to producing quality Australian theatre".
Stewart said the brilliance of Williamson's work was nothing is ever black and white.
"There's so many shades of grey slapped on there."
"It's just real, and I want the audience to feel like: 'I've had that argument, I've known people like that, I've been in that situation'."
Benjamin Newall, who is taking on the role of Stewart said he and co-star Rebekah Carton had created a great dynamic and spent time exploring their characters' psychology.
"We clicked from the first rehearsal... we've worked with our intimacy coordinator to kind of build our relationship as a married couple."
"We've been trying to really make this relationship real."
Newall said both his character Stewart and Carton's character Barbara were strong characters.
"They're both very, very stubborn."
"I think a running theme would be that Stuart has not been a good enough father or husband because he's too focused on himself and what he can accomplish in the academic world."
"But there's still an underlying love there... and this underlying love is kind of what keeps the relationship going throughout the play."
Carton said she took an immediate liking to the cast and her character Barbara.
"It just felt right... I had an immediate love for her."
Carton said, in a world where many female characters are one-dimensional, it is good to play someone "complex".
There is a fine line between selfishness and self-preservation, Carton said.
"It's about a woman searching for happiness."
Stewart said she hoped the play received a good audience in Warragul.
"I'm hoping to keep it affordable but have really good quality theatre and get a nice reputation so we can come out year after year and put on some really good Australian theatre.
"The Perfectionist" will also be performed by Cast Productions at Bunjil Place in Narre Warren and The National Theatre in St Kilda.
At WGAC the play will be performed at 7.30pm on Friday, August 11, and at 1pm and 7.30pm Saturday, August 12.
Tickets are $39.50 full price, $33 for members, and $35 for concessions, for those under 18 years old and groups of 10 or more.
"The Perfectionist" runs for two hours and 30 minutes including intermission. It is recommended for ages 16 and over.
To book tickets visit www.wgac.com.au