‘Middle Age Spread,’ a successful play, showing on film

Press, 3 August 1981, Page 15

‘Middle Age Spread,’ a successful play, showing on film

The New Zealand film. “Middle Age Spread.” directed by John Reid and produced by John Barnett, screens on One tomorrow night. More than 80.000 New Zealanders attended the Koger Hall stage play. •'Middle Age Spread", o'n

which the film is based. And the film has had equal success. It opened in Auckland and Wellington and was still running two months later — one of the most successful films of its vear. Location filming of the movie involved four weeks of

ten-hour days, six days a week in Auckland, during which an Epsom house was redecorated; 400 children at Avondale College became extras; and the leading actor. Grant Tilly, saw miles of Auckland road filming jogging sequences, mostly at night. Three of the film's actors

— Tilly. Dorothy McKegg and Donna Akersten — and the director, John Reid, were all in the original Circa Theatre production • of the stage play in Wellington in 1977.

Tilly, probably New Zealand's most respected actor, has a g.-eat affection for "Middle Age Spread." "In many ways Roger Hall has written my story and the story of my contemporaries. He’s taken the hopes and fears of the people in the story and in the audience and made them interesting," he says.

Dorothy McKegg said: “It was quite stunning to work on. There were moments when you just went goose bumpy. There are some magical moments and the dinner party finale is one."

Peter Sumner, a man of enormous experience in films and television, ranging from "They're a Weird Mob" to Mick‘ Jagger's right hand man in "Ned Kelly." was unstinting in his praise for "Middle Age Spread."

He said; "The level of professionalism was extremely high. ‘Middle Age Spread' combines being very

funny with some home truths that people in an audience anywhere in the world would recognise."

Sumner plays the part of Reg, a real stirrer, who is married to Isobel. a cottage craft enthusiast. Bridget Armstrong plays the part of Isobel.

Grant Tilly plays Colin with Dorothy McKegg as his wife Elizabeth. The other guests are Robert, a but-toned-down accountant played by Bevan Wilson, and his wife Judy, played by Donna Akersten. The film met with an enthusiastic and successful response. Audience and critics loved it.

A London.stage production of the play opened in October, 1979. at the Lyric Theatre in the West End, where it played for 17 months. In 1980'‘‘Middle Age Spread" was chosen as “West End Comedy of the Year."

The "Observer" called it "an unusually truthful and intelligent comedy." And the "New Statesman" said: “Sizzles with good jokes, and throws out sharp observations about middle-class angst."