Details

"Shoot first - ask questions later" - the "John Wayne" principle on which Robbie's father ran his multi-million dollar corporation in Sydney until a botched suicide attempt leaves him alive but comatose. Robbie, the son who turned his back on the family business to become a house-husband in the remotest part of Queensland is given an ultimatum: if Robbie can prove he can run the corporation for a year, he gets half his father's fortune. Can idealist Robbie run a multi-national business with his morality and integrity intact? Or will he become as corrupt and heartless as the snake-like guys in suits that are all desperate to get their hands on his inheritance?

Cast/Performers

Sally Bourne, Lucinda Cowden, Priyanga Elan, David Henry, Roger Leach, Alan Westaway

Creatives/Company

Author: Tony McNamara
Company: Nuffield Theatre Company
Director: Patrick Sandford
Design: Ti Green

The John Wayne Principle

The John Wayne Principle (Play) production archive for QTIX code T01070120431. Details of all The John Wayne Principle archived productions can be found under the QTIX code: S2057055242

Archive Listings

12 Apr 00
to
21 May 00

Pleasance
Inner London, Greater London
Performance Details => Venue archive

Reviews

Time Out: 11Jan01:
In McNamara s absorbing exploration of the incompatibility of big business and principles, Robbie inherits his father s company in the ruthless entrepreneur s suicide note. Robbie and sister Serena are beefily written: she has the metaphorical balls and yet he gets the company because he has them physically. Stafford Ellson is an exquisite character: smarmy, arrogant and oblivious to his own ridiculousness. [Alan Westaway], [Sally Bourne] and [Nicholas Rowe] gnaw fascinatingly at the roles. Director [Patrick Sandford] s light touch keeps the play s seriousness on simmer until the unexpected ending brings it to the boil.

The Times: 11Jan01:
A slight but enjoyable romp through the carnivorous world of corporate executives. The engaging cast of [Patrick Sandford] s neatly staged production clearly relish their spiky dialogue. There are some nice turns from [Sally Bourne] as the career-minded Serena, [Nicholas Rowe] as the scheming Stafford, [Lucinda Cowden] as both Stafford s simpering wife and a slutty secretary, and [Priyanga Elan] as the cool but questioning Jenny. [Alan Westaway] turns Robbie into an immensely likeable central figure, so Robbie s embrace of the ruthless values he once rejected, in a brutal face-off with Stafford, is quite shocking.

User Reviews

Time Out (11Jan01): In McNamara s absorbing exploration of the incompatibility of big business and principles, Robbie inherits his father s company in the ruthless entrepreneur s suicide note. Robbie and sister Serena are beefily written: she has the metaphorical balls and yet he gets the company because he has them physically. Stafford Ellson is an exquisite character: smarmy, arrogant and oblivious to his own ridiculousness. [Alan Westaway], [Sally Bourne] and [Nicholas Rowe] gnaw fascinatingly at the roles. Director [Patrick Sandford] s light touch keeps the play s seriousness on simmer until the unexpected ending brings it to the boil.

The Times (11Jan01): A slight but enjoyable romp through the carnivorous world of corporate executives. The engaging cast of [Patrick Sandford] s neatly staged production clearly relish their spiky dialogue. There are some nice turns from [Sally Bourne] as the career-minded Serena, [Nicholas Rowe] as the scheming Stafford, [Lucinda Cowden] as both Stafford s simpering wife and a slutty secretary, and [Priyanga Elan] as the cool but questioning Jenny. [Alan Westaway] turns Robbie into an immensely likeable central figure, so Robbie s embrace of the ruthless values he once rejected, in a brutal face-off with Stafford, is quite shocking.

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