John Hughes’ classic ’80s movie comes to Holden Street this October
Matt Byrne Media is bringing the full version of The Breakfast Club, live to the Adelaide stage in October/November.
Producer/director/designer Matt Byrne, has adapted John Hughes’ classic ’80s movie for a three-week season at Holden Street Theatres from Wed Oct 22 to Sat Nov 8.
The story follows a day in the life of five students who spend a whole Saturday in detention at Chicago’s Shermer High School on March 24, 1985, that changes the way they see themselves and the way they see each other.
“They represent five different groups in the school body – the nerds, the princesses, the jocks, the goths and the stoners,” Byrne said.
“Jamie Hornsby plays Brian “The Brain” Johnson, Kacy Ratta plays Claire “The Princess” Standish, Loccy Hywood plays Andrew “The Athlete” Clark, Kristen Tommasini plays Allison “The Basket Case” Reynolds and James King plays John “The Criminal” Bender.
“At 7 a.m. they meet with nothing in common, but by 4 p.m. they have opened their hearts and fought their way to common ground and realise they need each other.”
Matt Byrne will play Shermer Principal Richard Vernon and Brendan Cooney will play Carl The Janitor, in this stage adaptation that brings a fresh perspective to this compelling drama.
“Vernon gives the group a 1,000-word essay to write about who they think they are, which changes radically as they day unfolds, and proves the perfect epilogue to the story,” he says.
“The Breakfast Club is a much beloved film because it captured the dilemma facing a new generation, and gave us characters we could really identify with.
“Hughes made a series of teenage films like The Breakfast Club, Sixteen Candles, Pretty In Pink and Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, that talked TO young people, not down to them,” he says.
“He took them more seriously than their parents and teachers did and acknowledged the breakdown of the family unit and dislocation between teenagers and their parents.”
“It’s a snapshot of the Brat Pack era that has stayed with us, and the script is just as powerful today. It’s ferocious, it’s funny and it’s so moving watching them bare their hopes, faults and dreams to each other.”
The Breakfast Club is known as the “quintessential 1980s film”. Empire Magazine ranked it in the 500 Greatest Movies of All Time, it made The New York Times’ Best 1000 Movies Ever list, and Entertainment Weekly ranked it No. 1 in the 50 Best High School Movies of all time.
The Breakfast Club will run at Holden Street Theatres at 34 Holden Street, Hindmarsh from October 22 to 25, 29 to November 1 and November 5 to 8 at 8 p.m., and November 1 and 8 at 2 p.m.
Admission is $30 Adults and $25 Concession with Group Discounts for Groups of 10 or more – $27 Adults and $22 Concession.
Bookings are available on 8262 4906, online at www.mattbyrnemedia.com.au, BASS or dramatix.com.au.
