2000 The Treadmill

Drama. Director Jack Opie, with Andrew Blackman, Jane Thornton and Hayley Anderson. Carlton Courthouse, Athenaeum II, Blakiston Theatre, Geelong, Gay Gough Theatre, Ballarat.

Synopsis: A wealthy and much honoured philanthropist, tortured by conscience over his one wicked act many years before, seeks consolation in reflecting on the lives of other powerful men (a lawyer in gold-rush Melbourne; a Jew in German-occupied Poland) whose one weakness destroyed themselves and those they loved.

"Complex and compelling ! a fascinating journey. !Throughly researched and profoundly moving !Andrew Blackman is utterly mesmerizing. He revels in Opie's rich poetic text !" (David Crofts, Melbourne Times)

"This remarkable play ! demonstrates his sure grasp of theatrical technique ! It is a tribute to both the writing and the performance that we are utterly gripped and drawn into these stories. ! a powerful, moving and thought-provoking play ! (Helen Thomson, The Age)

Poster for the 2000 Athenaeum production