David Williamson's 'Rhinestone Rex And Miss Monica' returns to the stage to explore love and loneliness in the modern age.
Directed by Mark Kilmurry, this two-hander features Georgie Parker as Monica, a former classical violinist, and Glenn Hazeldine as Gary, a country music enthusiast and tradesman. They couldn’t be more different, and the play explores how much this matters when looking for love.
Set in Monica's Paddington apartment, the story begins as she hires Gary to renovate her kitchen. Their contrasting musical tastes, her snobbery, his sexism, and the age-old tension of tradie versus single woman, establishes a tension that will either end in explosive sex or a dead tradesman.
Portrayed initially as rigid, cold and bristling, the second act turns perceptions of Monica on their head, with echoes of ‘American Pie’'s iconic line, “This one time, at band camp. . .”. This is the crack in her veneer that eventually lets Gary in. It is unresolved as to why Monica would want to be with him, though. From the beginning, it is clear that Gary would like a partner – any partner, and Monica just happens to be the good-looking warm body in front of him. It is less clear that Monica wants a partner, or what Gary would add to her life, apart from no longer fitting the bitter old maid stereotype.
Image © Jade Ellis
While the story feels a little regressive, the performances were excellent. The casting couldn’t have been better, especially with Georgie Parker playing against her popular type. Glenn Hazeldine embodied Gary completely, lending the unsophisticated, lying, sexist tradie trope a warm charm. The use of Gary’s radio segments helped to diversify the story telling, and give voice to the character’s inner life.
While 'Rhinestone Rex And Miss Monica' feels a little dated in some ways, the search for connection remains universal.
