On the handlebars of a theatrical dilemma

PREPARING to direct one of the plays themed around dilemma as part of Creswick Theatre Company’s 12 Minute Play Festival, James Freemantle suddenly found himself facing a dilemma of his own.

The professional film and television director had put his hand up to direct one of the dozen 12-minute plays set to feature in the festival being staged this Sunday 26 April and over next weekend, 2 and 3 May.

The returning festival is a showcase for new and established playwrights who compete to have their short plays included by submitting original scripts that must conform to a set theme.

The best scripts are selected to participate, and following weeks of rehearsal the plays are then staged with audience members invited to vote for their favourite.

Alongside dilemma, the playwrights were required to write in some reference to cards, whether playing cards, business cards, greeting cards or any other kind.

Freemantle was about to direct The Reunion, written by Jane Neville, when a mountain biking mishap on Creswick’s own mountain bike park trails resulted in him being airlifted to hospital with a pelvis fractured in four places, four fractured vertebrae and two broken ribs.

The dilemma for Freemantle then was whether he should continue to direct the play and possibly set back his recovery, or stay still, miss out on directing The Reunion, and live with the regret.

“He literally called me from his hospital bed with his pelvis fractured in four places, and said, ‘I’m sorry but I don’t think I can make rehearsals this week’,” said festival director Kari O’Gorman.

“I said, mate I think you’ve got other priorities to worry about right now.”

Fortunately, Freemantle is now well on the mend and, although temporarily confined to a wheelchair, has been able to resume co-directing Neville’s play.

“It’s just fortunate that the new accessibility ramp to the Courthouse Theatre in Creswick has just been completed in time for James to get into the theatre,” O’Gorman said.

Times and ticketing details are at creswicktheatre.com.au