milkmilklemonade

Photography c. Bob Seary

BY JOSHUA CONKEL
Australian Premiere

"I'm fulfilling my friggin' destiny!"

A playful, outrageous and funny coming-of-age tale about sexual awakening, growing up gay, and what happens when your best friend is a chicken.

Emory is an 11 year old boy who lives on a farm with his God-fearing, chain-smoking Nanna. His best friend is a depressed giant chicken who wants to be a stand-up comic. His favourite pastime is choreographing ribbon dances. Emory 'plays house' with Elliot, the 12 year old pyromaniac who lives down the road, and his greatest ambition is to be a contestant on a tv talent show.

MILKMILKLEMONADE is a painfully funny exploration of gender, sexuality, life, death and the need to dream up a world where you can be true to yourself.

Written by up-and-coming New York-based gay writer Joshua Conkel, New Theatre is proud to be presenting the Australian premiere of this seriously wonderful queer romp as part of Sydney Mardi Gras 2013.

‘I was enthralled, enchanted, enlivened and engulfed… The whip-smart dialogue, break-neck pace and a realistically sweet-and sour love story gives MILKMILKLEMONADE my vote for the "OMG, You HAVE to See This Show" award for the Mardi Gras season.’ Media-Culture.org

‘Melita Rowston's production has the measure of the play's kookiness. It's messy and manic, but even as the chaos of "processing day" unfolds, there's just enough space for some emotion and poignancy to shine through.’ Sydney Morning Herald

‘To pull off a play with such dark subject matter, in such a light, playful and clever way takes a wonderful director and a truly great cast… Melita Rowston leads a fine creative team in a production that fulfills the intense ambition of an award wining script.’ LisaThatcher.wordpress.com

‘Director (when she's not a writer) Melita Rowston does Brooklyn-based Josh Conkel's surreal and absurd MILKMILKLEMONADE proud…an exceptionally talented and committed cast and creative team.’ Australian Stage online

‘Melita Rowston handles the play with restraint and humour, so that even the more absurd moments are believable. It is a love story told with affection and heart, a fresh, honest perspective.’ Theatrepeople.com.au

'Melita Rowston has showed remarkable restraint in her deft direction of this piece. By keeping it carefully controlled, Rowston has allowed the wackiness of it to be funny and absorbing without losing sight of the real melancholy at its heart.' Theatre from the backseat

CREATIVE TEAM:

Director: Melita Rowston
Design: Antoinette Barbouttis
Lighting Design: Richard Whitehouse
Sound Design: Kent Rowston
Production Manager: Fern George
Stage Manager: Gaëlle Clark
Choreographer: Angela Blake
Assistant Choreographer: Joel Thomas
Voice Coach: Helen Tonkin

CAST
Mark Dessaix, Leah Donovan, Sarah Easterman, Kieran Foster, Pete Nettell

SEASON
Tues 5 Feb - Sat 2 Mar, 2013

The New Theatre, 342 King St, Newtown