Orton on stage in Melbourne

Wednesday, May 10, 1995 - 10:00

Orton on stage in Melbourne

The Ruffian on the Stair

By Joe Orton

Starring Dales Stevens, Alan King and Guy Phillips

The Stage, 231 Smith St, Fitzroy, until May 20

Reviewed by Kelly Jean

The subjects of Joe Orton's works were prostitution, rape, homosexuality, scandal and shock tactics — subjects alien to the theatre and audiences of his time.

Like the characters he created for his plays, Orton had little concern for social conventions. He wrote, "I'm a success because I've taken a hatchet to them and hacked my way in".

In expressing his form of anarchism he created public controversy for his works and himself: "Sex is the only way to infuriate them. Much more fucking and they'll be screaming hysterics in next to no time."

His first play, Ruffian on the Stair, is being presented by Seneca to celebrate Orton's works "uncensored". The play is set in a '70s house using the conflicting interaction of three socially unacceptable characters: ex-prostitute; dealer; gay male retracing an affair with his incestuous brother.

Themes include sexual satire, desire and farcical conformity involving the powerful implications of words and situations.

From GLW issue 186