Camping crammed
Lynn Freeman
The Motor Camp, Directed by Danny Mulheron, Circa Theatre, Reviewed by Lynn Freeman
The summer holiday exodus sees thousands of Kiwis leave their own piece of paradise to get away from it all – and end up crammed into camping grounds cheek by jowl with other like-minded holiday makers. It’s nuts on one level and endearing on another. In this scenario, Dave Armstrong (based on a story by director Danny Mulheron) has two academics and their pouty 15-year-old daughter park their battered old caravan alongside a family from the other side of the tracks. Oil and water.
Armstrong, his director and cast give us characters who are stereotypes but while that can be a negative, here they are just people and couples with the kinds of problems most of us can identify with at some level. It might be noting a relationship in trouble, or a perpetually texting teenager, or professional jealousy. There is a lot packed into this play, and as with the best comedies, the balance between the laughs and real substance is just right. If we don’t care for characters, plays like this fail. You will care about them.
The Redmonds, Jude (Danielle Mason), Frank (Tim Spite) and 15 year old Holly (Florence Mulheron), pitch up at the Windmill Motor Camp, idyllic apart from the crazy camp ground owner and their temporary neighbours, building contractor Mike (Phil Vaughan), partner Dawn (Olivia Violet
Robinson) and her 17 year old son Jared (Anthony Young).
They are the kind of polar opposite couples you’d mix up in a TV wife swap programme. An attraction between the teens sets off a series of confrontations that make for an eventful two hours.
The stellar cast do the writer and director proud, Dennis Hearfield’s set looks and works a treat. This is one way of squeezing in some time at a camping ground without having to leave home.
The summer holiday exodus sees thousands of Kiwis leave their own piece of paradise to get away from it all – and end up crammed into camping grounds cheek by jowl with other like-minded holiday makers. It’s nuts on one level and endearing on another. In this scenario, Dave Armstrong (based on a story by director Danny Mulheron) has two academics and their pouty 15-year-old daughter park their battered old caravan alongside a family from the other side of the tracks. Oil and water.
Armstrong, his director and cast give us characters who are stereotypes but while that can be a negative, here they are just people and couples with the kinds of problems most of us can identify with at some level. It might be noting a relationship in trouble, or a perpetually texting teenager, or professional jealousy. There is a lot packed into this play, and as with the best comedies, the balance between the laughs and real substance is just right. If we don’t care for characters, plays like this fail. You will care about them.
The Redmonds, Jude (Danielle Mason), Frank (Tim Spite) and 15 year old Holly (Florence Mulheron), pitch up at the Windmill Motor Camp, idyllic apart from the crazy camp ground owner and their temporary neighbours, building contractor Mike (Phil Vaughan), partner Dawn (Olivia Violet
Robinson) and her 17 year old son Jared (Anthony Young).
They are the kind of polar opposite couples you’d mix up in a TV wife swap programme. An attraction between the teens sets off a series of confrontations that make for an eventful two hours.
The stellar cast do the writer and director proud, Dennis Hearfield’s set looks and works a treat. This is one way of squeezing in some time at a camping ground without having to leave home.
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