Washington DC “abuzz” says MTC but US press less impressed by David Williamson’s take on the media mogul.

The US premiere of Melbourne Theatre Company’s Rupert has set Washington DC’s theatrical set abuzz following its opening performance on Wednesday night at The John F. Kennedy Center. It is the only Australian production featured at the 2014 World Stages: International Theater Festival.

Members of the audience leapt to their feet as the curtain came down on what was MTC’s first international tour in thirty years. Among the first night crowd were the Australian Ambassador to the United States of America The Hon Kim Beazley, playwright David Williamson, MTC Artistic Director Brett Sheehy, Executive Director Virginia Lovett, and Director Lee Lewis.

MTC Executive Director Virginia Lovett said, “The cast were in high energy mode and did a fabulous job. They really went out there and wowed the audience… One of the Kennedy Center staff who has worked there for 43 years told me it was the best thing he’d ever seen. All the talk is that it was a great night in the theatre.”

The Washington Post, however, was less enthusiastic summing up the work as “one-dimensional” and saying that David Williamson’s take...