The Graduate

Media Release for Immediate Use

The Graduate
A play by Terry Johnson
Directed by Catherine Downes

31 MARCH – 28 APRIL

“Would you like me to seduce you?
Is that what you’re trying to tell me?”

The classic cult comedy that defined a generation is back.

Benjamin Braddock returns home from college with excellent grades but an uncertain future. His father’s business partner, Mr. Robinson, recommends that Ben should seize every opportunity that comes his way - so he does. Specifically "Mrs"Robinson.

Sexually awakened by the vivacious Mrs. Robinson, life seems to be on the up for Benjamin until he meets the beautiful Elaine and falls in love. There's one problem: she's Mrs. Robinson's daughter.

The Graduate is a story that has stood the test of time for nearly 40 years. The novel was a 60s cult classic; the ground breaking 1967 film was nominated for seven Academy Awards and made stars out of Dustin Hoffman and Katherine Ross, now the acclaimed stage version of this comical, iconic slice of American pop culture has seduced the West End, Broadway and soon Wellington.

The enduring popularity of The Graduate is due to many factors – the classic ‘generation gap’ story, the memorable movie performances (from a cast that included Dustin Hoffman, Anne Bancroft and Katharine Ross) and the iconic imagery and dialogue. It therefore came as no surprise when, in 1998, the American Film Institute published a poll in which The Graduate was named as the seventh most popular motion picture of all time.

“Here’s to you Mrs Robinson.”

Downstage’s very own Catherine Downes directs this iconic and hilarious piece of pop culture and has lined up a fabulous cast to match.

Starring as the scintillating seductress Mrs. Robinson, we welcome home to New Zealand kiwi actress Catherine Wilkin. Catherine’s stellar career has seen her perform in London, Oslo, Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Auckland, Christchurch and Wellington. Her landmark performance in the Downstage production of Hedda Gabler was internationally successful, garnering an exceptional reception at the Edinburgh Festival.

Catherine’s film and TV work is equally extensive and has resulted in Silver Logie and Penguin awards in Australia and a Best Supporting Actress at the NZ Film and Television Awards. Wellington audiences will recognize her as the ‘rich bitch’ Liz Ryan from McLeod’s Daughters.

Her thoughts on playing the iconic figure of Mrs. Robinson, “I love her strength and sharp humour, she’s fun and naughty. You get a delicious sense she’s on the brink, but utterly in charge of the situation.”

“Are you in love Benjamin?
Do you have the audacity? The indecency?”

Julian Wilson: (Benjamin Braddock) Our antihero is versatile Wellington actor Julian Wilson. Recently seen in Death of a Salesman, The Rivals, and as Widow Twankey in Aladdin, 2006 also saw Julian awarded the Chapman Tripp Theatre Award for Best Male Supporting Actor for his role as Cohen in The Underpants. Julian was last seen at Downstage as Seymour in Little Shop of Horrors.

Alistair Browning: (Mr. Braddock) has played in more than 100 theatre productions, including Angels in America, Hamlet, Middle Age Spread, and Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf. TV watchers will have seen him often in Shortland Street, Street Legal and Gloss. Alistair is a self confessed groupie of The Graduate’s playwrighter Terry Johnson. He’s performed several of his productions and meet the exuberant man himself when he was directed by Johnson in Not Only But Always, a 2004 tele-feature about comedians Peter Cook and Dudley Moore.

Peter Hambleton: (Mr. Robinson) Peter is one of Wellington’s most beloved and experienced actors. Recent theatrical highlights include Dr Buller’s Birds, Romeo and Juliet, The Cherry Orchard, Master Class, The Goat or Who is Sylvia? and Flagons and Foxtrots – to name but a few.

Geraldine Brophy: (Mrs. Braddock) An amazing and inspiring actor, in her 22 years in the industry she has played more than 150 roles on stage. Geraldine has also proven herself as a writer and director with sell out seasons of her plays The Viagra Monologues and Confessions of a Chocoholic. Geraldine is currently playing Auntie Ina in Flagons and Foxtrots.

Laurel Devenie: (Elaine Robinson) Laurel is a 2006 Toi Whakaari graduate who is currently enjoying an extended run as Jillian in Flagons and Foxtrots. Her film Roadkill won the TV2 Visions of Promise Competition in 2002 and also in 2002 she traveled to the Globe Theatre, London as one of the NZ Shakespeare Company.

Designers
Nicole Cosgrove
Phillip Dexter

Bookings 04 801 6946

Performance Times
Monday - Thursday 6.30pm
Friday & Saturday 8pm
Matinees Sat 14 Apr 2pm, 21, 28 Apr 4pm

$20 Public Preview Fri 30 Mar

FREE Post Show Talkback
Monday 2 April

Tickets
Premium $39
Premium concession/groups 8+ $30
Members $29
Students $28/$18 2hr standby
School parties/Children under 12 yrs $10 per person
Restricted view seats available for all performances

WARNING: contains nudity
www.downstage.co.nz

ENDS

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