Wheeler’s Luck

The Southside Players’ Hobart version of Wheeler’s Luck (by arrangement with New Zealand Playwright’s Market) was a demonstration of good fun theatre show-casing talented energetic actors, with an excellent script. It was also one of the funniest nights’ I have spent at the theatre in months, maybe years. Wheeler’s Luck, written by Nigel Collins, Toby Leach and Damon Andrews is a hilarious romp, with three actors, playing fifty characters, set in one town. Originally that town was called Bell End in New Zealand but the script has been reworked, with permission from the writers, as Bell End in Tasmania. The local references resonated with a partisan audience.

Director Gus Powers had fun with the universal theme: change and economic development, versus retaining a lifestyle based around the unique qualities and histories valued in a community.

With an almost non-existent set, just a few screens of lattice and a half-wall, and some entrances and exits, action changed readily from a cottage, to a tavern, to the mayor’s office, and to the outdoors, where we see a reckless horse race with alternating pillion rider.

Added to this, a bell and one prop, leaving the three actors and their skill to create a complex story with action, character and accent changes. Craig Irons, Karissa Lane & Antony Talia successfully accomplished this, due to the narrative carried in the dialogue, and the actors’ ability to convey, with tiny nuances or big action, a character or scene change. Hurray for actors with good voice projection - Karissa Lane can belt it out. Craig Irons does a nice line of miming a man on a motorbike, and Antony Talia had fun as the villain “mainlander.” The bareback horse race was side-splittingly funny. Hurray for actors with energy, a sense of fun, terrific timing and teamwork. Hurray for the production team, especially sound and lighting. A hilariously fun night of entertainment!

Merlene Abbott