David Williamson’s latest play, Family Values, gives Australia a touch up

If you’re not offended by the latest work by Australia’s greatest playwright, you’re probably not paying attention, writes Phil Brown, but he somehow manages to hold a blowtorch to the belly of Australia while making us all laugh at the same time.

David Williamson, with cast members Amy Ingram playing Emily and Leon Cain playing Michael, in Family Values play which is previewing ahead of opening night next Thursday at Bille Brown Theatre, South Brisbane, on Saturday 28th January 2023 – Photo Steve Pohlner

If you’re not offended by David Williamson’s play Family Values you’re probably not paying attention. Our greatest and most prolific playwright, now 80, has been skewering Australian society and mores since the 70s and his latest report on the state of the nation is Family Values which opened in the Bille Brown Theatre Thursday night.

It was a full house with the playwright and his wife Kristin, also a writer, on hand.

Williamson is from Melbourne originally but we have claimed him as a Queenslander since he has been living at Noosa for years now. He confessed to being nervous ahead of the play’s local debut and it’s nice that he is still so engaged in the process. A lesser playwright might be a bit blase after a lifetime of entertaining us. It’s the fact that he entertains us that has drawn criticism over the years. Imagine complaining that something is too entertaining?

Family Values is set in a Queenslander in Ashgrove

Thank God I say. So much theatre nowadays is unremittingly worthy but Williamson cuts through all that and makes us laugh while giving an honest and savage critique of Australian society at the same time. Someone has to do it.

And as for not discussing politics or religion in polite society well, bugger that. Family Values discusses both, among other matters.

It’s a classic Williamson set up – the location is the home of a well to do retired judge, Roger, played by Peter Kowitz. He and his wife Sue, played by Andrea Moor, are expecting their children over to celebrate Roger’s 70th birthday. They are hoping it will be fun but we immediately understand that the whole thing is going to hell in a handbasket.

For a start daughter Lisa (Helen Cassidy), who works helping refugees, turns up with an Iranian asylum seeker, Saba (Sepi Burgiani) in tow. She is on the run from the law which compromises Roger’s principles as a law abiding former justice.

Son Michael (Leon Cain) is there too and he’s a happy clapping Hillsong devotee (Scomo’s mob we are reminded) who is a bit obsessive and then in pops daughter Emily (Amy Ingram) with her partner Noeleine (Jodie Le Vesconte) who happens to be Emily’s commanding officer on a border patrol boat. Yikes! You can see where this is going.

David Williamson with Family Values cast members Amy Ingram and Leon Cain at Bille Brown Theatre, South Brisbane – Photo Steve Pohlner

So Williamson sets up a comedy of manners with a serious heart. He is passionate about the issue of our treatment, or mistreatment of asylum seekers and we get that point put strongly as we laugh and cringe at times watching the family implode.

As Tolstoy once wrote … “Happy families are all alike; every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way.”

And that’s where the material is richer, in the unhappy family, although there is redemption in Williamson’s unhappy family although it’s a torturous and hilarious journey getting there.

As usual Williamson’s dialogue is sharp (he’s the master) and witty and littered with references to, well, this newspaper for start and other local colour including mention of the suburb where it is set … Ashgrove in fact. Ashgrovians will feel a sense of pride about that! Perhaps.

There are some uncomfortable moments, particularly when dad Roger expresses his own discomfort with his daughter’s lesbian marriage. Michael, being a born-again Christian is none too happy with that either. I could see some people squirming when that was playing out.

It was pointed out to me later that some folks might feel uncomfortable in a Williamson play because they recognise themselves in the characters on stage and that’s part of his genius. He’s critiquing you, me and himself as he has been since the beginning of a long career in which he has produced more than 50 plays, screenplays and other writings.

There is a sense of history being made when you are watching a new Williamson and the actors know that and they were revelling in the moment. The cast is amazing. I felt that Moor was the anchor, an accomplished thespian who is utterly authentic. Peter Kowitz is so familiar due to a long career on the screen and he is great as the retired judge who seems conservative and grumpy but has a heart of gold when all is said and done.

Brisbane actors Amy Ingram and Leon Cain are brilliant as siblings Emily and Michael in Family Values

Leon Cain is a comic genius whose portrayal of the happy clapping son is hilarious and Amy Ingram is also stellar for her shambolic, idiosyncratic portrayal of Emily. Jodie Le Vesconte, a former member of Dykes on Bikes is fantastically butch and gruff as the conscience of Border Force and Helen Cassidy is great as Lisa, who is trying to help Saba, played with empathy by Sepi Burgiani.

It’s fun and plotted and choreographed as deftly as an Agatha Christie whodunit and it explores contemporary society with a withering eye and is expertly directed by Queensland Theatre’s artistic director Lee Lewis who knows her way around a Williamson or two.

It’s deceptively accessible but it leaves you thinking. Williamson has a way of probing deeper issues by making us laugh and he takes us all along for the ride in the process. It all takes place on a brilliant set designed by Renee Mulder.

It is 90 minutes without an interval. Williamson knows when to hold them and when to fold them, bless him. What a way to start 2023 at Queensland Theatre!

Family Values is on at the Bille Brown Theatre until February 24

queenslandtheatre.com.au