A year ago Dolphin Theatre audiences helped raise a considerable amount for the theatre building development fund by coming along to watch performances of celebrated British playwright Alan Bennett’s award-winning “Talking Heads” series.

A year ago Dolphin Theatre audiences helped raise a considerable amount for the theatre building development fund by coming along to watch performances of celebrated British playwright Alan Bennett’s award-winning “Talking Heads” series.

Another fund raising show is coming up on May 14 – 16 this year. In conjunction with Dolphin, MSM Theatre – comprising Max and Sue Golding and Maxine Burgham-Page plus designer Dugald Page – will be back with a show called “More Talking Heads”, guest directed by Sheila Summers.  Tickets are only $20 with all money going towards the building development project.

This time the show has a different twist. Two more of the Bennett monologues “A Cream Cracker Under the Settee” and “Her Big Chance” are partnered with “Resolution” an award winning solo play by British playwright and actor Pip Utton.

This was an Edinburgh Fringe Festival hit for Utton in 2000 and he has been touring it in Britain and Europe, along with his other one-man shows, ever since.

Bennett’s monologues are a mastery of humour, irony, passion and sadness. He is celebrated for his razor sharp wit and poignant portraits of ordinary people.

In “A Cream Cracker Under the Settee” Doris, (Maxine Burgham-Page) widowed after being married to Wilfred and living in the same house for over fifty years, has a pace maker and dizzy spells. She has regular home help (or is it "home hindrance") from Zulema, a council paid cleaner. How long can Doris maintain her independence?

“Her Big Chance” is the story of Lesley (Sue Golding), an ambitious yet somewhat delusional actress in search of the ever elusive big break. Lesley works hard at her craft but needs a career “leg-up”.  Will a chance encounter at a party provide just that?

“Resolution” addresses an issue very close to home … the need to see adequate punishment exacted on the perpetrators of crime.  In “Resolution” we meet Peter (Max Golding), a happy family man, proud of his daughter, Suzy. Then a hit and run driver kills her on her eighteenth birthday. We follow events over the next three years for Peter and the man who killed his daughter. Max Golding plays two roles in “Resolution”, alternating pieces of monologue – Suzy’s father and the imprisoned killer.

“Resolution”  is an emotionally powerful, complacency-shaking work in which Pip Utton brilliantly dissects this modern dilemma, succinctly conveying the duality of this tragedy”. Where does the ordinary victim stand? Can a wrong ever be righted by another wrong? Is it okay to think about revenge if it eases the pain? Is it okay to do it if it resolves the remorse?

Dolphin Theatre, 12 Spring St, Onehunga, (off Church St) from May 14-16 at 8pm, plus a 2pm matinee on Saturay 16th. For bookings or further information Phone 636 7322  or see www.dolphintheatre.org.nz