At first I thought Lithgow could have played up his gigolo character a bit more but at the end you understand why he didn't.
The second set was very sombre. Seconds after arriving at the motel Harry (Steve Driver) is in pain, clutching his stomach. His wife, Pearl (Verona Nicholson) is in a dither. She's obliviously on edge and skitters about helping her husband, and making tea.
They make calls to their children telling them they love them. The underlying message I got from this was to spend more time with your family. It's a powerful set, especially the ending when you could have heard a pin drop in the theatre. Both actors played their parts with feeling.
Next we meet Elvis (Glen Pickering). Elvis is a travelling salesman. He's been on the road for years. It's here we get to know the hotel manager a bit better as he invites himself in for a beer and proceeds to verbally trash poor old Elvis' life.
Lots of laughter in this set but also an underlying message.
The final set was my favourite. Both cast members played their parts with attitude.
Annabel (Kim Wright) arrives at the motel in high spirits. She's ready for some action and changes into a saucy little number before texting her lover. There's a knock at the door and she dives on the bed in a sexy pose and invites her caller in. Only the caller is not her lover, it's Janet (Lynda Corner) her lover's wife. Initially, I felt sorry for the poor wife with a cheating husband who berated Annabel and called her all sorts of names. But in the end it was Annabel who had my sympathy. Loved the ending.
My only criticism would be that while most voices carried well, I fear that with a full house some people at the back may find it a little hard to hear everything.
Well done to director Andrea Vernik-Taaffe.
The Motel is dramatic, funny and highly entertaining but most importantly for me it was thought-provoking - that's what makes good theatre.
