Codgers

Codgers is a 2006 stage play by Don Reid that was later turned into a 2011 comedy film of the same name by Wayne Harrison. Reid created a companion play for Codgers entitled Biddies, released in 2012.

The play

Codgers was developed as a play by Don Reid.^[1]^[2]

It toured regional New South Wales in 2008 and nationally in 2010.^[1]

Plot

The story follows five elderly men that meet weekly at their local gym to talk and spend time together. When a newcomer threatens their friendships, the group must overcome the temporary setbacks and find a way to overcome these new issues.

Reception

Performances of the play were positively received.^[3]^[4] The Sydney Morning Herald review said that it was a "pleasant, simple and heart-warming comedy about ageing and its possible wisdoms".^[5]

Awards

Reid won the 2006 Rodney Seaborn Playwrights Award of Codgers.^[1]

Film adaptation

The play was adapted into a feature film directed by Wayne Harrison and starring Ronald Falk, Ron Haddrick, and Edwin Hodgeman.^[6]

The film premiered at the Parramatta Riverside Theatre on 24 June 2011 and was released to video on demand through Titan View in 2013.^{[citation needed]}

Biddies

In 2012 Reid released Biddies as a companion piece to Codgers.^[7]^[8] The play featured a similar plot device as its predecessor, centering on five older women and former schoolmates that are gathering together to sew a project for their former school. The play starred Maggie Blinco, Annie Byron, Vivienne Garrett, Julie Hudspeth, Donna Lee, and Linden Wilkinson,^[9] and received mixed reviews.^[10]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c "Lack of funds leaves Codgers in the cold". Brisbane Times. 6 April 2010. Retrieved 28 May 2013.
^ Mitchell, Natasha (24 July 2008). "Life Matters: Codger s". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 28 May 2013.
^ Sharon Verghis (10 April 2010). "Still here: maturity, wit, wisdom coming to a stage near you". The Australian. Archived from the original on 27 June 2013.
^ "Codgers, Steady Lads". Australian Stage. Retrieved 28 May 2013.
^ "Review: Codgers". The Sydney Morning Herald. 5 August 2008. Retrieved 28 May 2013.
^ "Codgers to hit the big screen". Stawell Times. 19 March 2012. Retrieved 28 May 2013.
^ "Biddies - Annie Byron". Focus Magazine. Retrieved 28 May 2013.
^ Blake, Jason (17 April 2012). "Sewing circle moral lacks a light thread". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 28 May 2013.
^ "Old biddies get the laughs". Northern Star. Retrieved 28 May 2013.
^ Cecily Ryan (17 April 2012). "Old gals get noticed in Don Reid's new play Biddies". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 27 June 2013.