Theater: Honour

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'Honour' is a play newly arrived from Melbourne. The inherent theme of 'Honour' is about the choices one makes, which like broken glass, can't be unmade. Theatre goers, who like their play short, will appreciate this play that is fast-paced and clocks an hour and twenty minutes. The star of the play, is Jane Alexander, an actress who has never disappointed with her performances, and who over time has made it a habit to portray strong women who have made foolish choices. Here, she displays her typical ability to shift between, furious anger, raw pain, and wry humour. Though the play is essentially the story of a marriage in mid-life crisis, its style is thoroughly modern. This makes it appealing and immensely watchable. Reason enough to get your tickets for the show.

The central character of 'Honour' is honor, played by Jane Alexander who is the quintessential homemaker, putting her familial responsibilities above all else. This 'else' includes her career as a poet, which is on hold for close to thirty-two years. She has helped her husband reach the zenith of journalistic success, and has also fulfilled her duties as a full-time mom. The story then follows the time worn path of the insincere husband, the other woman, the betrayed wife and the rise of the 'woman of substance'. But the overriding clichés of the character are masked by the actor's usual on-stage brilliance. The supporting star cast is able and has done ample justification to their roles. Enid Graham as her passionate daughter, and Laura Linney as her rival deserve due credit for their performances and so does Robert Foxworth who plays her husband.

Moreover, this time worn plot is held together by the direction of Gerald Guiterrez, who keeps the focus of the play's strength and also adds a few twists along the way. The scenes are neatly strung-together and snappily punctuated. Ms Murray-Smiths punched up dialogues are apt and do not allow conversations to meander into speeches. Lovers of theatre who want a play which re-explores the effect of social changes on relationships have got something to cheer about. The play holds a lot of promise, even if the plot is a tad too old fashioned. If nothing else, the epigrammatic dialogues, and powerful performances, make watching the play worth the effort. Admirers of conventional drama need to watch this play; so get your hands on the tickets for the play.