Halpern & Johnson June 8, 2010

HALPERN & JOHNSON
By Lionel Goldstein & Directed by Mark Kilmurry
Starring
Garry McDonald and Henri Szeps

Two Very Different Men with One Surprising Thing in Common
Riverside Theatres
June 8 – June 12

The stellar cast, Garry McDonald and Henri Szeps reunite for this award-winning drama in which they play two polar opposites. Director Mark Kilmurry deftly approaches Lionel Goldstein’s touching and funny play Halpern and Johnson. This tender story about loyalty and betrayal is playing at Riverside Theatres from 8 June to 12 June.

The classic grumpy old man, Joseph Halpern, played by Henri Szeps is a recent widower mourning who seems incapable of expressing his sense of loss and love for his deceased wife Florence. When taking a few minutes alone by her graveside, Halpern is approached by a stranger, introducing himself as Dennis Johnson, played by Garry McDonald. As the two men talk Johnson reveals an affection for Florence that is more than that for a dear, departed friend and in so doing uncovers more than just the secret of their relationship. With warmth and wit, Lionel Goldstein’s play explores the complex web of marriage and friendship, secrets and lies, mixing sharp human insight with cracking humour.

“This is a powerful drama about human relationships and it is given a dynamic breath of life with the outstanding talents of Garry McDonald and Henri Szeps and we greatly welcomes these legends of Australian television, stage and film to Riverside Theatres” said Director of Riverside Theatres, Robert Love.

Garry McDonald and Henri Szeps are a formidable team. Best known for his role as Arthur Beare in the ABC’s Mother and Son, Garry McDonald most recently played Nathan Detroit in the stage musical Guys and Dolls. His theatre credits include The Hypocrite and Whose Afraid of Virginia Woolf for the Melbourne Theatre Company and The Give and Take for the Sydney Theatre Company to name a few. McDonald’s film credits include Don’t be Afraid of the Dark, The Rage in Placid Lake, Rabbit Proof Fence and Moulin Rouge. Multi-award winning, Henri Szeps worked alongside Garry McDonald on the famous ABC series Mother and Son. His theatre credits include QED, Operator, The Price I’m Not a Dentist and Sky (Written for Henri by John Misto) for Ensemble Theatre, Steady Lads’ Codgers directed by Wayne Harrison and Sydney Theatre Company’s Dead White Males to name a few In 2003, Szeps won a Helpmann Award for Cabaret.

… perfectly cast… Mark Kilmurry’s production, on Nicholas Dare’s effectively simple park setting, lets these two gems shine…
The Daily Telegraph

… McDonald and Szeps are outrageously good at the subtle nuances of human behaviour… the kind of theatre that people want to pay to see…
Australian Stage Online

… Halpern & Johnson is a masterpiece… superbly directed by the Ensemble’s Mark Kilmurry…
The Australian Jewish News
Director: Mark Kilmurry
Starring: Garry McDonald, Henri Szeps
Designer: Nicholas Dare
Lighting Designer: Martin Kinnane

HALPERN & JOHNSON at
RIVERSIDE THEATRES, Cnr Church and Market Sts, Parramatta
DATES: Tues 8 Jun at 7.30pm; Wed 9 Jun at 7.30pm; Thurs 10 Jun at 6.30pm;
Fri 11 Jun at 7.30pm; Sat 12 Jun at 2.15pm & 7.30pm
SINGLE TICKET PRICES: Adults $52, Conc $47, 30 & under $39
BOOKINGS: Riverside Box Office 02 8839 3399 or www.riversideparramatta.com.au