The OE is so embedded into kiwi culture it is easy to assume that every young person from about the age of 20 or so jets off overseas to have experiences in foreign lands. But that isn’t always the case and indeed some never go, while others head away when they are much older.
In Tadpole Productions creation of Roger Hall’s play Taking Off the latter is the scenario chosen by four mature women who for various reasons head to London seeking adventure.
Frankie (Jodie Dorday) has a fondness for leopard pattern clothing and accessories, is bored with her husband and has just won a second division lotto prize. All she’s interested in is fun and flirtation with exotic strangers. Ruth (Laura Hill) desires to write a novel and has found out her farmer husband is bonking another farmer’s wife. With a novel writing guidebook as a constant companion she is determined to write a book about her life.
Noeline (Rachel Nash) is a widow who, after nursing her terminally ill husband in his final years, decides to embark on the trip they had intended to do together. She seeks work in Britain as a nurse to fund her break away. Jean (Darien Takle) sets off for the UK after being made redundant from a company despite decades worth of loyal service. The excitement of travel is tempered by the fact that she doesn’t really seem to like it all that much.
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The stories of the four women don’t much intersect as they live in different parts of New Zealand. Frankie and Jean do end up getting to know one another, but what we see on stage are separate stories which each character narrates either through phone calls and emails home, or, in the case of Ruth, the internal monologue as she writes her book.
All four have moments of doubt, heartache, and in one or two cases danger. But they also find moments of fun and joy.
Roger Hall’s first-rate script is filled with superb witticisms, sharp observances on society, and at times ribald slapstick. The characters are so imbued with depth, emotion and personality that it is easy to forget they are fictional.
Of course words in a script have to be delivered and this play is quite complex with its rapid fire changes of scene and sharp dialogue. What it needs therefore is actors with solid dramatic and comedic talent and thankfully the casting choices were perfect.
All four of them were up to the challenge and each one seemed to bring a special something to their respective role. Dorday is a brilliant comedian and was on top form in the many scenes that required her to exploit Frankie’s sassiness. Hill is a very versatile actor and channeled both a feistiness and vulnerability in Ruth, but also exploited the inherent comedic aspects her story provided.
Nash seemed to understand that Noeline was the most reticent of the four women and she brought a gentleness and warmth to the often sad situations her character found herself in. But there was also a strength in Noeline and Nash exposed that with subtlety.
Jean was loveable, while also being at times a little bit annoying and a little bit clueless, but ultimately a battler and full of courage. Takle had an instinctive appreciation of this and was able to portray a women with multiple dimensions to her.
The technical and staging aspects of the show were also well thought out such as the seemingly simple use of armchairs and a table with stools which allowed a remarkable versatility in location options. A large screen at the back of the stage showed text, photographic and video imagery which enhanced each scene effectively. When combined with movements by the cast the screen convincingly portrayed the outside world such as a plane taking off into realistic turbulence and a ship being tossed around by large waves.
Taking Off is a very satisfying theatre experience. The story and dialogue are top notch, and the cast a delight. Miss it at your peril.
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TAKING OFF
5th – 15th September 2024
Performances: Tuesday to Saturday at 7:30pm (No Monday performance)
Matinees: Saturday 14 September at 2pm; Sundays 8 & 15 September at 4pm
Ticket prices:
Adults $45 | Seniors (65+) $39 |
Friends of The PumpHouse $30
Students / Equity $25 |
Groups 10-20 $39 |
Groups 21 or more $30
