POSTED: 05 NOV 08

Reg Livermore in The Thank You Dinner ... at his absolutely droll best, delivering a cavalcade of richly textured lines with impeccable timing.

Photo: Steve Lunum

The Thank You Dinner

(Ensemble Theatre, Kirribilli, Sydney, until 7 December)

Lovely by name ... perhaps not by nature.

Roger Lovely, that is, the central character of The Thank You Dinner, Reg Livermore's outstanding one-man show at the Ensemble Theatre.

The story is a deceptively simple one. When called away on business for three weeks, Roger cajoles the three neighbouring residents of his block of flats to take care of his family.

Some time after his return, he invites the threesome to his place for dinner, just to say thank you.

As I said, deceptively simple, at least until he stirs the pot and starts to bring forth some intriguing complications. But enough of the storyline ... that should remain a surprise.

I couldn't say enough, though, of the quality of Livermore's performance. For more than an hour which goes far too quickly, he's at his absolutely droll best, delivering a cavalcade of richly textured lines with impeccable timing.

And he draws beautifully the three characters who share his apartment block in the "English enclave of Rose Bay" — I wonder if it would have been the "English enclave of Mosman" had the performance been staged in the Eastern Suburbs.

Just as I wonder if Sydney rather than Melbourne would cop the verbal caning if The Thank You Dinner was being performed in the Victorian capital.

I first became aware of Livermore's talents in the mid-60s when he hosted Crackerjack, a kids' variety show on ABC Television, then in the mid-70s saw him live alongside Kate Fitzpatrick in the original Australian production of The Rocky Horror Show, and in Betty Blokk Buster Follies, which began a splendid series of one-man cabaret shows.

So it had been more than 30 years between drinks, so to speak, but catching up with Livermore was an absolute pleasure. The raunchy physicality of Frank 'n' Furter is obviously no longer there, but the energy, creativity and talent have not waned one jot.

The tiny Ensemble Theatre is the perfect vehicle for Livermore in this show. He can draw the audience into his dining room and kitchenette and sit them right alongside his guests.

The setting is limited in space but provides Livermore with an enormous canvas on which to display his talents — as writer, director and performer.

Go see for yourself one of the few genuine treasures of Australian entertainment.