![The Return](/media/ri0kjqvw/thereturn_hero_1920x1080.jpg?anchor=center&mode=crop&width=400&height=250&rnd=133032066036300000)
![The China Incident](/media/0vvajsi2/2008_205-hero.jpg?anchor=center&mode=crop&width=768&height=432&rnd=132781189275700000)
Production still for "The China Incident". Anne Browning as Bea Pontifec. Photographer: Jeff Busby
The China Incident
18 March 2008 – 13 April 2008 Tower Theatre
Malthouse Theatre, Palpable Hits, Melbourne International Comedy Festival,
New Writing Theatre Collaboration
In her small, yet secure high-rise office, Bea Pontifec could be anywhere. Thanks to the spread of global communication, she is everywhere. Prowling the room like a power-suited spider, she juggles despots, dignitaries and diplomatic affairs in tandem with a drug-addled son, a new-age daughter and a two-timing partner. The world at large patches in to seek her advice on a tense cauldron of upheaval involving half a dozen nations, and this PR consultant will be damned if she's going to let anything, or anyone, upset her carefully woven world; not the African Dictator or the US President.
"A FULL-THROTTLE COMEDY ... THIS TIME AROUND THE CREATIVE TEAM OF HOUGHTON AND HIS PARTNER, ANNE BROWNING, SWAP ROLES ... THE RESULT IS THE SAME HOWEVER; A TERRIFICALLY FUNNY SCRIPT AND A WILDLY ENTERTAINING PERFORMANCE."
— The Age
Cast
Creatives
![David Franzke](/media/rn2nwtux/franzke-j-david.jpg?anchor=center&mode=crop&width=300&height=300&rnd=132763237390170000)
Sound Designer, Lighting Designer
![Peter Houghton](/media/lzejxdxf/houghton-peter.jpg?anchor=center&mode=crop&width=300&height=300&rnd=132763239037630000)
Playwright, Director
![Leonie Dixon](/media/qy5hakip/dixon-leonie.jpg?anchor=center&mode=crop&width=300&height=300&rnd=132763236772330000)
Stage Manager