THREE middle-aged journalists will swill their beer and chew the fat about diabetes at Point Cook’s Featherbrook Community Centre this Friday in the latest play by Alan Hopgood.
The acclaimed actor and playwright has written nine comedies about medical ailments since he went under the knife for prostate cancer 20 years ago and the curtain went up on For Better, For Worse.
“Being my story, I had every right to make it a comedy, and as a result people saw it and said it was a great way of getting the message across,” Hopgood, 78, says.
At the suggestion of people who had suffered other health problems, he began writing more medical comedies. His former “screen wife” from Bellbird, Maggie Millar, inspired him to write A Pill, a Pump and a Needle after she developed type 2 diabetes.
“When we toured that everyone asked ‘what about the blokes?’ so I wrote another play called Six Degrees of Diabetes about three journalists. And each play led to someone knocking on my door suggesting a new one.”
His tried-and-true formula is a 40-minute play followed by a forum with an expert about that particular issue.
“This play is three journos in the pub – two have diabetes and they’re trying to talk to their mate about doing something about his health.
“Journos drink a lot, sit at computers a lot; they’re sitting ducks for these sorts of things, you might say. They also have the ability to rationalise anything.”
Hopgood says men are usually reluctant to talk about health, but exploring the problems can break down the stigma.
“I turn it into a bit of a comedy because it’s a scary enough topic and if the blokes are having a bit of a laugh at the same time, the message is getting through.”
Free bookings: call John Ballestrino or Daniel Allen on 9395 0221.
