‘Bouncers’ by Godber

Press, 28 November 1988, Page 7

‘Bouncers’ by Godber

“Bouncers” by John Godber, directed by William Walker for the Great New Zealand Stage Production Company. At the James Hay Theatre, November 25 to 26. Running time 8 p.m. to 10.20 p.m. Reviewed by Elody Rathgen. The message of “Bouncers” is grim and grimy like the streets, discos and urinals in which it is set. It is not a satire, it is a larger-than-life confrontation with late-night happenings. The direction and performance of “Bouncers” is superbly professional, achieving the slick street-smart thrust it needs. The director, William Walker, has the four-member cast pounding and bombarding the audience with all the energy of young lads out for the night to get drunk and, if possible “laid.” The play is about Friday night-Satur-day night male working class culture. The lads stick together. The girls they are after do not really intrude on their group spirit. “Girls” are there for the picking but have no significance. I|: they are given a thought at all beyond lust it is only to be pitied for

their vulnerability. “Girls” aren't really people. It would be inappropriate to single out cast members so strong is the company performance. Peter McAllum, John Wraight, Ross Gumbley and Eddie Campbell make the stage pulsate with energy and violence. They present their characters in such clear stereotypes that they become at times more like a superb set of puppets. Many scenes demonstrate the fine direction of William Walker, particularly the urinal scenes of drunken vomiting. Comedy and tragedy are present as the violence and the vulnerability of the young men are conveyed. “Bouncers” has a frightening aspect. The vision it presents is of young people losing any sense of individuality — becoming carried along mindlessly by the street beat. Although set in Britain obvious parallels are here in New Zealand. The audience clearly recognised the types and the settings as familiar. ItPis a brilliant production but also a disturbingly unpleasant play.