Directed by James Balian

Opens Star of the Sea Theatre  23rd May to 9th June 2007

When politics on the Northern Beaches were a COMPLETE FARCE! The Hotel Manly, though listed as an Art Deco treasure, was pushed over for flats. The mates go fishing and octopus hunting.Robin William Askin was the Liberal member for Collaroy from 1950 until his retirement in 1975. He lived with his wife Mollie in Bower Street, Manly. It is generally agreed that, as Premier, he and his Police Commissioner (from Fairlight) took regular bribes from crime bosses. He sold knighthoods. He took regular cutbacks from developers, businessmen, superannuation funds. He gave organised crime its start in Australia. Famously, when faced with Vietnam War demonstrators he instructed his chauffeur to drive over the bastards. He nominated himself for a knighthood in 1972. For years Bob would drop into the now-demolished Hotel Manly on Saturday mornings for a drink with the local mates and there, in Frank Hatherleys new and outrageous farce, we watch our hero juggle the conflicting demands of bookies, bagmen, visiting Mafia, developers, politicians, journalists and his stridently anti-communist wife. Franks previous plays with PTC were the Sydney auction farce Open for Inspection in 2000 and last years intense My Henry Lawson. The riotous Manly Mates will complete his hat trick!

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