Caravan
I read this play several years ago and didn’t find it particularly funny. Henry Lawson Theatre gave it a red hot go at convincing me otherwise.
Jason Darlington, making his directorial debut, showed tremendous promise in his first outing, bringing together a cast of HLT regulars, much to the delight of the full house, very supportive and highly amused audience.
Caravan is a quintessential Aussie comedy, so very easily identified by anyone who has ever been on a summer holiday with high expectations on a low budget. The plot is particularly relevant given the ongoing weather we’ve experienced over the past twelve to eighteen months.
Parkes (Matthew Doherty) is extremely proud of his caravan. Every year he takes his family to the same caravan park, parks it in the same spot and spends two idyllic weeks in his perception of holiday luxury. His wife, Penny (Melissa Bedwell) willingly joins him, although it probably isn’t her idea of fun. This year, by way of a change, the kids have been left behind, and three lifelong friends have been invited, so they too may enjoy the comfort and privilege of staying in Parkes’ caravan, experiencing the sun and sand, fun filled days and relaxing evenings of wine and conversation.
Can you see where this is headed?
The caravan is cramped, demonstrated in the opening scene when first Penny, then Parkes enter through the door hitting their heads.
Long-time friends Rodney (Daniel Boole) and Monica (Dianne Darlington) arrive, hitting their heads of course, and the discomfort of the cramped quarters begins to emerge. Monica doesn’t hold back with the criticism and whingeing, much to the annoyance of her long suffering husband.
Finally, Pierce (Jeffrey Brocktoff) arrives with his latest girlfriend, Gwendolyn (Amber-Mai Feeley). There is a considerable age difference here, and the four friends are not happy welcoming Pierce’s latest squeeze, he’s only known for a week.
As you would expect there are many awkward situations, tricky sleeping arrangements, some indiscretions, totally inappropriate behaviour and tensions between the friends. Then it starts raining!
Doherty as Parkes probably lays on the physical comedy a little thick for my taste, however, his sheer size in the space and his ever increasing frustration as the holiday deteriorates was amusing and straight out funny at times.
Melissa Bedwell as Penny was a little off pace for much of the performance, however, when she delivered a stinging response to the rest of the group she more than redeemed herself and deserved the cheers and applause from the audience.
Boole’s comedic timing as the somewhat aloof Rodney, was brilliant in many scenes, particularly as a counterpoint to the chaos going on around him. I always admire an actor who can portray a character naturally during farcical situations.
Dianne Darlington as Monica played the snooty, boozy, bitchy Monica superbly, combining with her husband Rodney to deliver some of the best comedy of the night, while Jeffrey Brocktoff as Pierce offered great delivery of his character, the middle-aged man facing the crisis of ageing while trying desperately to keep up with a twenty something girlfriend. Amber-Mai Feeley played the role of Gwendolyn with the perfect balance of naivety and honesty required of the sweet young thing flung in amongst the friends in their forties; her dialogue, littered with pithy comments and witticisms, hit their mark beautifully.
The set struck me as a little too roomy and some of the comedy may have been better served in a smaller space, however, having said that I couldn’t help but be impressed by the visual appeal of the design.
All in all, this western Sydney community theatre group does a sterling job at entertaining their audiences, in a very friendly, welcoming environment located to the rear of a small club in Werrington.
Fortunately, the Chisel Tribute Show performing in the next room added rather than detracted from the performance, bringing a rather typical sound effect to the night and reminding us all that when you stay in a caravan park, we’re all in this together.
Annette Snars
Photographer: Rebecca Fletcher
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