James Smith as Matt
(Photo taken by Thomas McCammon. Design by Anthony Nocera)
HOW NOT TO MAKE IT IN AMERICa
By Emily Steel
17-20 November 2021 | Space Theatre, Adelaide Festival Centre
It’s 2001. Matt is a young actor from Adelaide who moves to New York with dreams of making it big.
But as September comes and the city at the centre of the world is thrown into chaos, Matt’s life, the one he’d always dreamed off, starts to veer wildly out of control.
Featuring a tour de force performance by beloved South Australian actor James Smith, How Not to Make in in America is a sharply observed portrait of a man on the edge, fraying at the sides while staring down a city that threatens to swallow him whole.
Written by Emily Steel How Not to Make it in America is a hilarious and heartbreaking off-off-off-off-Broadway world premiere about holding it together while being pulled from every direction.
Featuring: James Smith | Director: Corey McMahon | Producer: Manda Flett | Production Designer: Meg Wilson | Lighting and AV Designer: Chris Petridis | Composition and Sound Design: Jason Sweeney.
How Not To Make It In America is funded by the Department of Premier and Cabinet, through Arts SA (Arts Recovery Program) and through the generous support of donors via the Australian Cultural Fund.
We also acknowledge the support of the Adelaide Festival Centre in making this production possible.
Inspired by a monologue written by Emily Steel for the Act Now/State Theatre Company South Australia Decameron 2.0 series.
A Theatre Republic production presented in association with Adelaide Festival Centre.
THIS PRODUCTION HAS NOW CLOSED
(Click HERE for production photos)
WHAT THE REVIEWERS SAID ABOUT HOW NOT TO MAKE IT IN AMERICA
“The work of Smith and Steel gels seamlessly under the genius guidance of Corey McMahon to give us yet another sensational piece of work from Theatre Republic. There just aren’t enough superlatives to explain how uplifting it is to see a brilliant actor use the gift of brilliant writing guided by a brilliant director supported by a brilliant production team. Go see it and take all of your friends”
Alan Barnes, Glam Adelaide
“James Smith’s Matt is a marvel of theatrical engineering and engagement. Steel chops up time and space and Smith surpasses the challenge of turning 28 characters into meaty chunks of New York personae. Within this narrative complexity director Corey McMahon, Steele and Smith put you on the streets of NY – you can smell hot dogs and B.O. and simultaneously marvel at Smith’s virtuosity with accents and emotion. Bravo!”
David Grybowski, Barefoot Review
“The profundity of Steel’s writing is uncovered in Smith’s performance. While Matt is his central character – a bright-eyed, ambitious, and earnest 20-something who is immediately endearing to audiences – Smith portrays a total of 28 different roles. Under the direction of Corey McMahon, each is astoundingly distinct and well established”
Michelle Wakim, InDaily
“In Theatre Republic’s impressive production, unerringly directed by Corey McMahon, Steel’s text is brought vividly into life. James Smith steps into the centre stage with an ease and expressive range which is astonishing. We have seen his work flourish in Adelaide. Here, he shows what he can do with an empty stage and a beautifully nuanced text”
Murray Bramwell, murraybramwell.com