Summer of the Seventeenth Doll

In my opinion Pearl and Emma stole the show. Pearl with her pride; Emma with her sarcasm. I must admit I was expecting the punch up scene to be a bit more viscous. Bubba was so obviously over the top and Olive's sobbing at the end was not true to the play. Overall the play was a good laugh. Although, how many encore's does an ensemble need?

I attended the audio described matinee performance of Summer of the Seventeenth Doll on 3 March. As someone who could see for 29 years, it is wonderful to again know why everyone else in the audience is laughing, when a character has sculled a beer or has adjusted Kewpie dolls in a vase. Robyn Nevin did not need any audio description to paint a clear image in my head of her facial expressions and movements – vocally she was outstanding! I enjoyed the play and particularly, enjoyed the described visuals that I’ve been missing. It is a shame so few vision impaired people are aware that QPAC has been offering audio described plays, musicals, operas and ballets for the last 12 months, and that there are so few willing volunteer describers. I attended the one and only audio described performance of Summer of the Seventeenth Doll even though this date was inconvenient. Without more trained volunteer describers, the choice of attending a matinee or evening performance is not yet possible. Romeo and Juliet, and Managing Carmen are the only other audio described QTC plays this year and likewise offer only a matinee performance. I hope in the future a lot more vision impaired people will experience the illumination of audio described theatre , and that more people will be prepared to volunteer to describe the costumes, sets and action on stage to those of us denied the visual pleasures of the performing arts.

I liked the stage set for this play, the performanace brings to life again this classic Australian play, excellent performance by all actors, we especially enjoyed the humour of the character Emma Leech. I found some of the dialogue a little difficult to hear distinctly from row A of the balcony.

My husnamd and I both enjoyed the whole night. The characterisations were true to the time, but not so 'daggy' as to be strange for the number of High School students at our performance. Stage setting was just right too.

This was the first complete unabridged version of the play that I have seen. Very professionally presented. But age (mine and the play's) has changed the meaning of it for me - from people finding it difficult to come to terms with the future when it arrives being very different from the past(no 18th Doll) and simply an insight into the mind-set of the 1950's.It's Australian and could only be Australian. Australians see mostly foreign theatre and films. Good local is always more soul-satisfying. The Doll is great local - and great world theatre.Wonderful.

It was lively, fun, entertaining, moving and overall very entertaining.

'The Doll' is brought to life by the outstanding characterisations of the entire cast. The staging, lighting and costumes thoroughly support the realistic style of the play and takes us back to a different time in our cultural history. The humour is sweet and on the beat. An excellent show.

i enjoyed my first time at qpac and especially one of my favourite plays. all the actors were very very good and believeable. a story for all times!

Quite entertaining, a few laughs, loved granny...reminded me of the granny on the Beverley Hill Billies.