Stepping out

Press, 29 June 1983, Page 15

Stepping out

Young Tom, a hitch hiker, in Robert Lord’s new play “Unfamiliar Steps” at the Court Theatre sees an elderly man collapse on the platform and helps him home. Little does he know what a bizarre and hilarious mess he is getting himself into. Bert the elderly man makes bird houses. Maisie, his wife, works part time at the chemist. Shona, their niece, is a nice young wife. Grantie, her husband, is the pillar of the insurance world of a small town. All nice and ordinary, but behind their unwitting humour there is worry. Robert Lord, the author will travel to Christchurch from New York, where he now lives, for the last days of the rehearsals especially

to put a few finishing touches to the script of ‘Unfamiliar Steps.’ The director will be the first of the artists brought to New Zealand from Australia on the Tasman Cultural Exchange Scheme, AarneNeeme. A strong cast has been assembled to give this comedy its world premiere. John Currie plays the quirky and eccentric old Bert. Yvonne Martin plays his wife Maisie. Shona, their niece, is Alison Quigan and Grantie, Mark Trezona. Tom, the travelling stranger who is the catalyst in the play’s crises is William Kircher. He returns to the Court company after three years in Dunedin, Palmerston North and Auckland.