The Wolves

WAAPA Third Year Acting Students have been split for the latest performance seasons. The women appear in this production of The Wolves, with their male classmates performing in brother production Fatherland. Directed with precision by Anna Houston, The Wolves follows a teenage girls’ indoor soccer team, over a six-week period.

Identified (mostly) only by the numbers on their uniforms, we watch as the 16- and 17-year-olds deal with both trivial and huge issues as their friendships and relationships change over their season and are drawn into their emotions as they deal with unexpected tragedy.

Set and costume designer Bec Simpson’s artificial grass set, clearly places us in a suburban rec centre (even more impressive when you later realise that this set is largely hared with Fatherland) and her costume design is functional and appropriate, with great choices on the team uniform and simple but precise decisions about the characters not in uniform. Dusan Nikora's lighting suits both location and emotional arcs, with Brendan Dietrich’s sound design effective and supportive.

These young performers are not much older than the girls they play and look like teenage girls (and most unlike their professional headshots), making them believable and vulnerable.

Lila McGuire as #0 stands out in the pack, and I found my eyes drawn to her frequently (and not just because as goalie, she is dressed in a different colour). With probably the lowest line count, Lila was compelling as this young woman with crippling social anxiety - and was completely committed to character whether speaking or not. Tess Bowers is believable, showing natural leadership as the captain, #25, who tries to keep the others in line, both socially and on the field. Aida Bernhardt is lovely as new girl, home-schooled outsider #46 as she struggles to fit in. 

Ruby Henaway demands attention as too-cool-for-school queen bee #7, with Kelsey Jeanell shows depth as her bestie #14, dragged into situations she does not want to face. Kelsey also plays #14’s mother, showing lovely versatility and conveying maturity with conviction - in a short but challenging doubling. Lauren McNaught shows lovely subtlety as #13 - struggling to make sense of her relationships. 

A bespectacled Estelle Davis is sweet and genuine as the bright #11 - lovely to watch. Lucinda Smith is endearing as #2, skinny, awkward and accident prone, while hiding a secret eating disorder, while Elyse Phelan again displays natural comic skills as #8, whose cute missteps hide the fact that she is brighter than she pretends to be.

The Wolves is a tender and clever production that shows the stretch and strength of the women in this Acting cohort. Simply a joy to watch - despite its often dark storyline. 

Kimberley Shaw

Photographer: Stephen Heath