Verdict: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 (reviewed Friday 27 March 2026).
A fable from 60 years ago that should no longer be relevant and yet somehow is.
– Castle Hill Players, Program notes, The Graduate
Presented by Castle Hill Players at The Pavilion Theatre, The Graduate is the one of the most satisfying productions we’ve seen in a long time. Terry Johnson’s stage adaptation is based on the book by Charles Webb and movie screenplay by Calder Willingham and Buck Henry.
It follows the character of Benjamin Braddock, a jaded young man with a bright future. He lives in a world of privilege and opportunity, yet is burdened by an indescribable, nihilistic dread that his life is not his own, but a product of what society expects from him. And so before going to college to become a teacher, he rebels against his parents’ wishes, by going on a road trip, bumming around, sleeping with call girls, and hooking up with the wife of his father’s best friend after she makes advances towards him.
Director Stephen Snars chatted to us after the show, describing all kinds of challenges about the play, including staging numerous scene changes. To our eyes, everything flowed seamlessly and effortlessly. A bedroom on one side marks the play’s constant theme of intimacy and retreat. On stage right, we see interior scenes in hotels, bars, and living rooms. The staging works well for this play, as does the 1960s montage of the Kennedy era rolling across the stage as the audience walks in. “I was 13 at the time,” said the man sitting next to me. I wasn’t even born, but I felt it. The soundtrack by Simon & Garfunkel adds to the nostalgia, giving us all tingly goosebumps.
The cast are absolutely fantastic in this, delivering memorable lines and moments. Some highlights:
Mrs Braddock, Ben’s mother (played by Emma Rose): in a therapy scene with Ben she cries that everything is her all fault although she tried to do everything right, including all the vegetables she ever cooked for him and recalling the time she stood in a freezing blizzard to buy some plastic toy with the right sword.
Mr Braddock, Ben’s father (played by Brendon Stone): is the squarish, disappointed father who lectures rather than listens while telling his wife to shut up because she wouldn’t know anything about the meaning of disillusionment. Hmmm.
Benjamin Braddock (played by Mitch Doran). Ben’s self-sabotaging behaviour requires a finely calibrated performance to make him neither a villain nor a hero, but a deeply flawed human. Doran captures Ben’s anger and confusion, with an exasperating elusivenesses that wounds other characters and made the audience gasp with some very cruel lines.
Mr Robinson (played by Ben Freeman): Mr Robinson upholds family values the way he upholds an axe, with all the money in the world made from profits in plastics. But despite being financially endowed, is unable to satisfy his wife emotionally / intellectually / artistically. His lividness when he discovers the affair made the audience guffaw out loud.
Mrs Robinson (played by Margareta Moir): The mercurial and wickedly funny Mrs Robinson is a self-confessed alcoholic who once herself had a promising career. Margareta Moir brings spice and tragic irony to the role and makes it her own.
Elaine Robinson (played by Brooke Salisbury): From the minute Elaine appeared on stage the audience fell in love with her; her passion for art, advocacy and life is delivered by Brooke Salisbury with a naturalistic enthusiasm. References to The Fountainhead (a seismic book by Ayn Rand) urges the notion of rugged individuality. With everything to live for, I wish Elaine had more options other than having to choose between two mediocre men. Really lovely and captivating performance, what Elaine would say, as charming as a goat-on-a-rope.
Hotel Clerk / Barman / Priest (played by Liam Stritt) and Hotel Receptionist / Stripper / Psychiatrist (played by Danielle Cutler): The minor characters in this play have a lot of fun; not only do they silently judge other people, but also add sparkle and humour. I especially liked the brief camaraderie between Cutler’s stripper scene and Elaine Robinson.
There’s so much more to enjoy appreciate about this production from the lighting to accent work, costuming and chemistry and the wonderful volunteers at the bar who kept us all hydrated, but let’s just say, Jesus will love you more if you go, hey hey hey….!
Highly recommended.
The Graduate is playing at The Pavilion Theatre in Castle Hill til 18 April 2026. For tickets and showtimes, go to https://paviliontheatre.org.au/the-graduate/
Image Credit:
Chris Lundie