The Sum of Us August 23, 2011

TheSum of Us, a bitter sweet comedy about the powerful love between a father and a son, is playing from Tuesday, 23 August to Saturday, 27 August at Riverside Theatres.

Starring one of Australia’s legendary actors John Jarratt Wolf Creek, McLeod’sDaughters, Better Homes and Gardens, The Sum of Ushas a humorous but poignant storyline which revolves around the devoted and loving relationship between widower Harry, his homosexual son Jeff and their individual searches for a partner. The play illuminates the eternal human need to transcend our separateness, to embark upon the difficult but necessary road to an accepting and loving connection with others.

This award-winning play by Academy Award nominee and Australian playwright, David Stevens, also became an AFI Award winning film starring Jack Thompson and Russell Crowe.

Acclaimed Playwright, David Stevens’ playThe Sum of Us premiered in 1990 off-Broadway and received an Outer Circle Critics’Award. It was adapted into a film starring Jack Thompson and Russell Crowe and won the Audience Choice Award for Best Film at the 1995 Cleveland International Film Festival and an AFI Award. Stevens was co-writer of the Academy Award nominated screenplay, Breaker Morant and has written extensively for television, including teleplays Jackie, Ethel, Joan:The Women of Camelot, Aftershock: Earthquake in New York, Crime and Punishment, Merlin and Queen, together with Mama Flora’s Family, The Thornbirds:The Missing Years, A Thousand Skies and episodes for Prisoner, Skyways, Homicide and Division 4.

“The Sum of Us is a tale of family and love, a story made famous in the film version by Jack Thompson and Russell Crowe. Powerful and universal bonds are explored by an impressive cast under the talented direction of Denis Moore. The Sum of Us is not to be missed,” said Director of Riverside Theatres, Robert Love.

Denis Moore has been a director in the theatre and an actor intheatre, film, television and radio for over 30 years. In thattime he has directed over 40 plays.His most recent directing credits have been JackHibberd’s classic A Stretch of the Imagination starring, Kenneth Lonergan’s LobbyHero (Red Stitch), Louis Nowra’s comedy/drama Cosi and Driving Miss Daisy.

John Jarratt’s career has spanned all aspects of theatre, film and television, making him one of Australia’s most well known personalities.Jarratt’s best known for his long running role as Terry Dodge on McLeod’s Daughters. His theatre credits include The Visit for the Sydney Theatre Company, Aftershocks and Diving for Pearls for Belvoir Street Theatre, A Streetcar Named Desire for the Queensland TheatreCompany, The Sentimental Bloke for the Melbourne Theatre Company, Deadheart for the NIDA Company, Obsessive Behaviour in Small Places, Season at Sasparilla and The Owl and the Pussycat for the Old Tote Theatre Company.

2003Logie Winner for Most Popular New Male Talent, Patrick Harvey won the Logie during his time with Neighbours in the ongoing role of Connor O'Neill.In recent times Harvey has been performing in pantomimes in the UK and has recently appeared in the filmValentine's Day and Network Ten’s Rush.

Glenn Van Oosterom has worked extensively in theatre most recently in Romeo and Juliet which toured the wineries of Victoria and NSW, Marcel and Albertine for Stork Theatre, TheRoad To Hell at the Melbourne Comedy Festival, TheImportance of Being Ernest for the Celtic Club, King Hit at Chapel Off Chapel, Folktale Safari for Knockabout Theatre and the Australian premiere of Tom Fool for Hoy Polloy.

Nell Feeney graduated from WAAPA in 1990 and has an impressive career across television, film and theatre. Feeney’stheatre credits include for the Playbox Theatre: God’s Last Acre and Aliens; for the MTC: the role of Lady Macbeth in Macbeth and theGail Edwards’ directed M. Butterfly for the MTC’s National Tour.

Jarratt is relaxed and entertaining as big-hearted, lonely Harry and Harvey is warm and engaging as his son. Denis Moore's direction is even-handed and competent…
Herald Sun

...made me feel a wave of emotions, a surge of patriotism, and hope for a more acceptingsociety – all in a couple of hours… it is great fun and makes you laugh and smile
Fremantle Gazette

…a poignant, psychologically rich exploration of family ties and the conflicts between those loyalties and the formation of outside relationships…an unusually sturdy and well-made play whose humane vision of decent people struggling to find love in a treacherous universe strikes a deep, warmly resonant chord.
New York Times

The Sum of Us
at Riverside Theatres, cnr of Church and Market Streets Parramatta
DATES: August 23 – 27
TIMES: Tues 23 at 7:30pm, Wed 24 at 7:30pm, Thurs 25 at 6:30pm,
Fri 26 at 7:30pm& Sat 27 at 2:15pm & 7:30pm
TICKETS: Adults $55, Concession $50, Under 30’s $43*
BOOKINGS: Riverside Theatres Box Office on 8839 3399 or www.riversideparramatta.com.au
* A transaction fee applies when booking tickets