BOY - Critic

Review Performance
Editor Jen Aitken
The road has no name
Written & directed by Feather Shaw
Staring Luke Agnew, Rachel Foerg and Alex Ross
The programme reads; “Enjoy the play, have a laugh”. Done. This was
a great way to kick off 2011’s LTT programme. To write and direct a play
all by your lonesome is a big task, the result of which I often criticise
but today I won’t. It worked. Shaw was working with a team who clearly
brought themselves, their experiences and their hearts to this piece
and together they made it work. Hitching is an adventure that many
have undertaken, some very regularly, and the universal appeal of this
play ensured the actors were really grounded in the work. They weren’t
straining to be in a moment and space unfamiliar to them and the play
seeped with familiarity.
Epic kudos goes out to Luke Agnew (“Man”); you carried this piece.
Granted, your character had 98% of the lines, but you exploded in this
role - you were “dynamite”. I hate to think that people like Man exist
but deep down I know that they do, so thank you for letting me laugh
at them. Foerg and Ross, however, came across a little flat. Given the
energy which Agnew’s character demanded, the two girls had little
chance of reaching the same level with the few lines they were given.
Again, this play did work, the girls just needed to be a bit stronger and
give Agnew something to bounce off.
Set was great (since it’s the first week I won’t mention how much I
hate that cyc; oops, I just did). Staging was great. I loved the opening
image of Foerg and Ross to the side, their backs to us, and Agnew raging
to the stereo in the driver’s seat. Similarly I adored how Shaw navigated
a “One Hour Later” time lapse. Stage manager Maya Turei entered the
space as a hitchhiker with a classic hitchhiker’s cardboard sign saying
‘One Hour Later’; her presence as another hitcher was acknowledged in
the script as Agnew’s character started screaming about having no more
room. This was a very nice and unexpected touch.
This was a fun play, lots of laughs were had and the audience thoroughly
enjoyed themselves. Win.
Critic 01 50
Dunedin Fringe Festival: FIND YOUR FRINGE!
17-27 March
The 2011 Dunedin Fringe Festival has attracted over 50 comedy, music,
dance, theatre and visual art acts, including its biggest ever line up of
comedy acts! Have you heard of Wilson Dixon? Raybon Kan? Irene Pink?
Justine Smith (my personal fav)? Ben Hurley or Steve Wrigley? If you
haven’t, I have nothing to say to you; do you ever even laugh? Go see
them all! Check out local comedic talent at any of Anti-Social Tap’s three
shows; Anti-Social Tap’s BIG NAMES, Fresh Talent stand-up and Du Bist
Ein Uber Show! More local talent: Once Was from Dunedin’s The Theatre
As Is, Sunday Roast, and the dance piece Chocolate Zucchini Cookies.
My pick of the festival would have to be Mates and Lovers; Sir Ian
McKellan just went to see it in Wellington, no shit, this exact production,
and if it’s good enough for Sir Ian... Based on a book written by Otago’s
own Chris Brickell, Mates and Lovers follows two actors as they explore
300 years of the private (and not so private) lives of men who love men
in Aotearoa. There really is something for everyone at the Dunedin
Fringe Festival, so pick up an orange Festival Guide; they’re everywhere.
It starts this Thursday. Go!