Away

This was a solid and well-staged production.

Michael Gow’s drama is 30 years’ old this year and it’s easy to see why it’s a staple of HSC English: the cultural and social commentary, the “big” themes of loss and mortality (especially in one’s youth), and the subtext are all so thick that Russian playwrights would be jealous. And yet it’s written in such a down-to-earth manner.

For those who did their HSC before the ’90s Away is an Australian drama involving three very different couples who have a tenuous link via their local high school, but whose paths cross when each goes away for the Christmas Summer. It is the Christmas of 1967 / New Year’s Eve 1968. One couple has a teenage son – Tom – who has to confront serious health issues. Another couple is grieving (not very well) the loss of their only child who was killed in the Vietnam War.  The third couple is grappling with issues of status, social routine, and material wealth. Shakespeare plays are referenced at the start, middle, and end of the script. It seems doubtful these families would all holiday in the same place by coincidence but even Shakespeare had to force some plots to make a point.

Gow’s notion that we’re all Eleanor Rigby was well realised. It was hard to fault this cast – everyone did a good job and was believable in their roles. My favourites were Brody Davidson as Tom (convincingly doubling newlywed Rick with nothing more than a change of posture and speech pattern), Melissa Kathryn Rose as Gwen (the 60s version of the Desperate Housewife) and Abbey Orchard as Meg (the young girl on whom Tom is keen). Tony Woollams pulled off a difficult job in both directing and playing Gwen’s suffering but understanding husband Jim.

The set was threadbare but effective, with triptychs flashed on a backscreen to suggest the locales. Before and after the show we were treated to songs of the era – mostly psychedelic or protest songs. The first song heard after the bows was The Carnival Is Over by The Seekers. Not sure if that was done on purpose, given what just transpired. Major kudos to the crew for effecting some fast and efficient scene changes.

There were some small spots where projection was down and some of the line delivery sounded more like recital than truth. The cast delivered their lines in rapid fashion, yet I understood every word and nuance and, except the small lapses noted above, were convincing in their delivery. There was also effective use of silence and pause.

Engrossing stuff.

Peter Novakovich

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Photo credit: Jenifer Bryant