In one of the Narrogin Repertory Club’s largest productions yet, theatre-goers from across the State reconnected with The Hardcase Hotel’s characters for the club’s sequel showing last month.
Audience members travelled to Narrogin’s Thornton Theatre from Perth and across the Wheatbelt to witness one of the seven performances from March 19 to 29.
The Hardcase Hotel 2 followed the club’s sold out rendition of the first instalment in April last year.
Written in 2022 by Devon Williamson, the comedy sequel is set three months after the Walter Buckley fish fork murder scandal.
Reprising the character of hotel manager Juan Carlos, played by director Ilario Da Silva, is struggling when his former assistant Aileen, played by Sharna Odlin, visits in an effort to restore the hotel’s harmony.
It does not take long before the duo once again put on their investigator hats to solve the murder of Sir Harold Trout.
They must determine which eccentric guest was the culprit before the chaos destroys their beloved hotel.
Nine new roles were introduced, with two new locals trying their hand at acting including Mikaila McIver who played Gertie, and 10-year-old Yeva Razumovskaya who stepped in after a late cast member withdrawal.
Elias Dyet was also newly recruited for sound and lighting.
Director and main cast member Da Silva said he purposely dressed the characters in black and white attire in the first act before a colourful reveal for the second.
Da Silva also designed, hand-drew and painted the set.
Louise Cameron said the club used one of the biggest casts in years to deliver the show.
Cameron said audience feedback was wonderful, relaying stand-out comments to the Observer.
“Every actor performed their role so well, their facial expressions were priceless, the casting of actors for their roles was spot-on,” she said one audience member commented.
“We go to plays all the time in Perth, and this play was every bit as professionally acted as ones we’ve seen. The set and costumes were actually better than a lot of them,” another two ladies told her.
She said another audience member told her they thought the play was fast-paced and they “never lost interest”.
