Hobart director wins approval to cast a same-sex couple in Andrew Bovell’s play, Speaking in Tongues

Tasmanian director Mel King breathes new life into the award-winning play Speaking in Tongues after gaining approval from playwright Andrew Bovell to cast a same-sex couple.

(L-R) Sara Pensalfini, Steven Jones, Arin Dean and Vasthi Pontaks perform in Andrew Bovell's classic play, Speaking in Tongues, directed by Mel King at the Playhouse Theatre in Hobart.

ANDREW Bovell’s award-winning play Speaking in Tongues is being performed in Hobart for the first time with a same-sex couple.

The famous play was adapted for the screen as the acclaimed mystery/romance Lantana, which shows the relationships of four couples unravel after the discovery of a woman’s body in bushland in suburban Sydney.

Tasmanian actor and director Mel King’s production of the play — her first community theatre work — premieres at Hobart’s Playhouse Theatre tomorrow night and runs until November 2.

“I’ve directed it as a professional show and it’s quite ambitious,” says King, who performed in the Tasmanian Theatre Company’s acclaimed production of The Mares earlier this year.

“I had so many incredible women audition for the play, I thought why don’t I give as many women a role as possible.

“So I wrote to Andrew Bovell’s agent and asked if I could cast nine people instead of the prescribed number and he said yes.

“I also asked him if I could make one of the male roles a female role and he also said yes to that. So I have a same-sex couple, which is very exciting. The play was written 22 years ago before same-sex marriage was pushed through and when there weren’t many ‘queer’ couples on stage.”

Presented in three parts, Speaking in Tongues examines the relationships of two couples who are having affairs, and as the play progresses we are introduced to more characters and deceptions.

“It’s been the most challenging piece of writing I’ve had to bring to life ever,” King says. “It’s basically Lantana on stage except for the same-sex couple. The first half is about love and relationships and fidelity, and then the second half becomes a murder mystery.”

King’s production has an ambitious set and dramatic lighting, and the sophisticated sound design includes a live cello performance by University of Tasmania Conservatorium of Music student Eliza Reynolds.

The cast of highly experienced performers includes David Bannister, Aleksandra Crossan, Arin Dean, Chris Hamley, Steven Jones, Eliot McCann, Sara Pensalfini, Sarah Phillips, Vashti Pontaks and Carrie McLean.

“It’s the most ambitious set I’ve ever seen on the stage in terms of amateur theatre,’’ King says. “The production also includes original music composed specifically for this play, offering a hauntingly beautiful soundscape which audiences will love.”

The play is the Hobart Repertory Theatre Society’s final show of the year.

Speaking in Tongues opens tomorrow at the Playhouse Theatre in Hobart, and will run until November 2. Session times are at 8pm, Wednesday to Saturday, and matinees at 3.30pm on Sunday, October 27, and at 2pm on Saturday, November 2. Bookings can be made online at www.playhouse.org.au or in person or phone at the Playhouse Theatre Box Office (6234 1536).