Thank You For Waiting

Image: Liam Wallis screaming with frustration at a phone.

Thank You For Waiting is a comedic triumph that turns the everyday frustration of automated phone systems into a hilariously absurd modern-day epic. Directed, written, and produced by Bailey Smith, this one-act play weaves meta-humour, clever staging, and sharp performances into an experience that is as relatable as it is laugh-out-loud funny.

From the start, the meta jokes about the show’s length and lack of intermission set the tone for a playful, self-aware production. The story follows Dave, a sleep-deprived office worker (played brilliantly by Liam Wallis), tasked with navigating ShipNow’s labyrinthine phone system to track down a missing package. What starts as a simple task quickly spirals into a comedic odyssey involving sentient voicemail systems, an escape-artist baby, and even an encounter with JFK.

As the writer, director, and producer of the show, Bailey Smith has created a hilarious satire of corporate bureaucracy and the human experience of frustration. The play excels at building humour through anticipation, with a script packed with intertextual references and increasingly ridiculous scenarios. The show was captivatingly unpredictable with moments like a Chekhov’s gun turning into a red herring demonstrate Smith’s talent for subverting expectations. Smith’s ability to balance meta-humour, sharp one-liners, and escalating tension had the audience groaning with laughter all throughout the show.

Image: Liam Wallis holding a coconut.

Star of the show, Liam Wallis’ performance as Dave perfectly captured the restless energy of someone barely holding it together. Dressed in a crumpled suit and pacing the stage like a caged animal on the brink of insanity, Wallis’ was a powerhouse in this small theatre, with every under-breath muttering and subtle expression easy to catch in the intimate space. It’s not easy to play an imbecile with credibility, but even when delivering particularly dramatic monologues, Wallis was able to maintain a moronic glaze that made these moments all the more hilarious. By the climax, when Dave finally snaps and delivers a cathartic rage-filled tirade at his boss before destroying the phone, Wallis’ authenticity left the audience both in stitches and awe.

Image: Georgine Sawyer behind the scenes speaking into a microphone.

Georgina Sawyer’s voiceover performance as the AI voicemail system was another standout. Her robotic yet oddly personable delivery brought an absurdly human touch to the inhuman service, perfectly mimicking the irritating cheerfulness of automated systems. The way she seamlessly censored herself mid-sentence with corporate buzzwords added an extra layer of hilarity, perfectly capturing the frustratingly cheerful tone of automated systems.

Beyond being the show’s creator, Bailey Smith also performed as the uncaring ShipNow employee. Smith’s performance embodied the very essence of corporate indifference, his blasé responses and hilarious lines pushing Dave further into despair. Acting out this role in person was fascinating choice that added a human element to the typical automated phone service – or was he a real human inflicting this torture all along? Regardless of the truth, Smith’s deadpan delivery was a hilarious rendition of the apathetic customer service phone industry. By the end, Smith’s reappearances became an event in themselves, with the audience groaning and laughing in anticipation of Dave’s next round of torment.

Liam Wallis bracing himself to make another phone call.

Thank You For Waiting is the kind of comedy that sticks with you long after the laughter fades. It takes the everyday struggle of dealing with automated phone systems and cranks it up into a wild, hilarious ride. The writing is clever, the performances are top-notch, and the humour is relatable to anyone who’s ever yelled, “Just let me speak to a real person!” It’s sharp, it’s unexpected, and it’s a story you didn’t realize you needed to see on stage. If you’re looking for a reason to laugh and cringe at the same time, this is your chance.

Rebecca Lynne

Photography provided by Bailey Smith