Six people shut in the claustrophobic confines of a caravan’s aluminium panels for two weeks is the ultimate recipe for drama – and hilarity too.
New Farm Nash Theatre’s production of the 1980s play by Donald MacDonald, with direction by Phil Carney, is full of simmering discontent masked by the bubble gum brightness of Penny, the sardonic sarcasm of Monica, and the easy-going simplicity of Rodney.
When Penny and Parkes Robinson invite their long time friends Monica and Rodney Price to join them on their holiday, with a last-minute addition of their friend Pierce and his youthful new girlfriend, it seems like a wholesome occasion.
But soon an affair is revealed, and as wet weather sweeps in, it’s not just the caravan that begins to spring a leak.
As one character puts it: “With friends like these, who needs enemies?”
Tensions are not helped by the prickly Parkes or Pierce the ladies’ man, who plays on their insecurities when he lies to his new girlfriend the gratingly optimistic, 26-year-old Gwendolyn, that they are all just 36.
Their friendships start to unravel, with an extremely entertaining performance from the cast, as they all inhabit their various archetypes – although can they be reformed?
The transformation of the people-pleasing Penny into someone more frank and fearless is the most satisfying part of the play’s conclusion.
The season runs until June 6 – get your tickets at trybooking.com/events/landing/1493015.
