Written by Michael Gow
Directed by Lainie Hart
Canberra REP production
Canberra REP Theatre, Acton to September 21
Reviewed by Len Power 6 September 2024
Originally performed in 1986, Australian playwright, Michael
Gow’s “Away”, has since become one of the most produced Australian plays and has
been studied by school students in many States.
It tells the story of three families holidaying on the coast
in summer 1967-68. The holidays should be a time of happiness and relaxation
but are clouded by darker issues that the families are trying to cope with. Parts
of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream and King Lear underline the very human
responses by the families to their problems. It is a play that resonates with
Australians, but the issues presented are universal.
 |
| Andrea Close as Coral |
Andrea Close as Coral and Jim Adamik as Roy, a couple trying
to getting over the loss of a son in the Vietnam war, give outstanding performances.
Adamik also shines in a very different second role as the ghastly, weak joke-telling
MC of a holiday concert.
 |
| Jim Adamik as Roy |
Christina Falsone achieves a strong characterization as
Gwen, whose unhappiness and complaining affects all her family. Callum Doherty gives
a heart-felt performance as the young Tom and everyone else in the large cast
give fine, believable and recognizable performances of great depth.
 |
| Christina Falsone as Gwen |
The show, with its multiple scene changes, is a challenge
for a set designer. Andrew Kay’s abstract design for the beach scenes including
the depiction of a storm and the Kodachrome slide projection of the locations worked
particularly well. The set pieces of the families’ rooms in their homes, while
realistic and detailed, seemed heavy and awkward to move. Costume designer, Helen
Drum, has dressed the cast in costumes that reflect the period very well.
 |
| Callum Doherty as Tom |
Director, Lainie Hart, has ensured that her entire cast have
achieved fully developed characterizations. This is a fine and enjoyable production
of this famous Australian play.
Photos by Eve Murray
Len
Power's reviews are also broadcast on Artsound FM 92.7 in the ‘Arts Cafe’ and
‘Arts About’ programs and published in his blog 'Just Power Writing' at https://justpowerwriting.blogspot.com/.
