Galleon Theatre Group Presents Australian Premiere of SEX CELLS Tonight

Rarely does a playwright's first play become an instant hit, but when Anna Longaretti's poignant comedy Sex Cells was first presented in 2013 at the Riverside Studios, London, it left audiences laughing and crying in equal measure.

Sex Cells is soon to have its Australian Premiere, when Adelaide's Galleon Theatre Group presents it at the Domain Theatre, Marion Cultural Centre.

Lily, Sylvie, Tiffany and Janice are the four female employees of Aphrodite, a sex toy manufacturer. They take telephone orders from clients. However, beneath the cheerful customer service and easy banter, these very different women nurse their own desires, disappointments, family stresses and even loneliness. There is lingering tension between the women, which their hapless manager, Mister Causeway, tries to diffuse. At the same time, this gentle, lonely man harbours a suppressed and longstanding crush on a completely oblivious Lily.

Galleon's production is to be directed by well-known local director Warren McKenzie, who said of the play, "When I first started to read through the script I was originally amused by the absurdity of the visual scene. Here was a broad range of women working in a sex toy call centre. I started to think, 'what would a normal work day be like?' As I read through the script I came to appreciate the characters and that the real plot was about relationships, love and a sense of belonging. The script has lots of 'moments' between all the characters, allowing both myself as a director and the actors to play with a broad range of emotions, have fun and bring the show to life."

The actors in Galleon Theatre Group's production of Sex Cells are also delighting in the roles they embody in the play, with the characters so well drawn that they seem totally real, thanks to Anna Longaretti's skill with dialogue.

Anita Canala plays Sylvie, with Sex Cells being Anita's third consecutive play as an actor for Galleon. Heather Riley, a Tea Tree Players stalwart is Janice, Heather's first Galleon role. Laura Antoniazzi is once again treading the boards for Galleon Theatre Group having been involved in award-nominated productions for the group before, including Jake's Women. She has the role of Tiffany. Lesley Reed plays Lily. Lesley has thirty years' professional and community theatre acting experience and is a theatre reviewer. Brian Godfrey is Mister Causeway. A theatre reviewer, director and actor of many years' standing, Brian will be directing Galleon Theatre Group's next production, Cheaters.

Playwright Anna Longaretti was a hairdresser in a salon for four years, following which she was a hairdresser and make-up artist in the fashion and film world, working with celebrities such as Drew Barrymore and Faye Dunaway. She is also an actor. She undertook creative writing courses and also studied playwriting with Bernard Kops. Anna wrote Sex Cells after a period writing for film.

Longaretti is thrilled Sex Cells is to have its Australian Premiere and has kept in close touch with Galleon Theatre Group during the rehearsal period. When the company asked the playwright for some insight into why she wrote this play, she was happy to oblige.

"Each character represents something to do with feelings that I have had; either before becoming a mother, being a mother and to some extent, having a mother. I knew at a young age, like a lot of women, that I wanted a child and I felt strongly enough about it that I'd adopt a child if for any reason I couldn't have one of my own.

"I am fortunate enough to have one child, a daughter. I thought that I would be the 'mother earth' type. After giving birth I looked at my baby and had a huge awakening-she was separate from me, she wasn't a mini me, she didn't even look like me. Fortunately, I bonded with her but I suffered post natal depression for about nine months after the birth. I was overwhelmed with how impossible it was to get anything done with a baby in tow and that made me resentful sometimes; I was also totally unprepared for how hard it was to leave my baby.

"I knew that everything I did and said would influence her to some extent and I didn't always feel up to the job. Once a woman has a child her life is no longer her own. Luckily, I have a close relationship with my daughter, Saskia. I didn't write the play until she was in her twenties. I've had time to reflect on how I felt in the early days and since."

Anna Longaretti experienced interesting reactions to Sex Cells even before the play was in full production.

"Sex Cells is the first of my work that I've seen produced," she said. "It is a deeply personal play and I didn't know if it would connect with anyone. I held a first reading in a friend's office and I read the part of Lily. I couldn't believe the reaction at the end of the reading. There were young men in tears, a girlfriend who was so choked that she couldn't speak and then there were the people who just enjoyed the play (and maybe some who didn't).

"I've been told some very moving stories about the effect the play has had on the actors as well as the audience, such as a woman who played Lily in Idaho and was told by a man who had recently lost his mother that he felt like he had had one more night with her during the play."

Director Warren McKenzie has his own thoughts about the audience reaction to Galleon Theatre Group's production of Sex Cells. "I hope the audience will go through the same roller coaster I did when reading the script. At first shock, then laughter, reflection and understanding. As with reality, everyone's life in this play has moments of comedy, anger, sadness and joy. I hope that the picture we paint on stage allows the audience to empathise with all the characters at some stage and they tell all their friends to come and see a great show'.

Longaretti's next play is a farce, Curl Up & Die, which is set in a hairdressing salon, but for now she's excited about Galleon Theatre Group's production of Sex Cells.

"I do think that it has universal appeal," said Anna. "I'm thrilled that Sex Cells has reached Australia. I think that Aussies, especially, will really get the humour."

Don't miss Sex Cells. It's both hilarious and deeply moving...and it's for everyone who ever had a mother.

IF YOU GO:

SEX CELLS

WHERE: Domain Theatre, Marion Cultural Centre.

WHEN: Preview Wednesday May 18, 8pm; Season Thursday May 19-Saturday May 21, at 8pm. Thursday May 26-Saturday May 28 at 8pm. Matinee Saturday May 28 at 2pm.

BOOKINGS: Email bookings@galleon.org.au, or call Galleon bookings on 0437 609 577. For credit card bookings go to www.trybooking.com/Booking/BookingEventSummary.aspx?eid=176213

TICKETS: $22; $18 concession; $15 preview night (preview-limited numbers).

*NOTE: Adult themes and strong language.

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