Theatre review: Things Not To Do After A Break-Up at the Depot Theatre Marrickville
Reviewed By: Natalie Salvo
Things Not To Do After A Break-up is a play with a great title and a story that works on many levels. We’ve all been there before and experienced a break-up. It’s also fair to say that a lot of us have done some silly things during this trying period. Writer, Wayne Tunks (Neighbours) turns this into a comedic fodder and a restorative romp that should prove as comforting as chicken soup for the broken-hearted soul.
Lauren (Lara Lightfoot) is the gorgeous girl who has the world at her feet. She’s had a successful career as an author and is in a long-term relationship with her handsome best friend Gideon (Gil Balfas). Everything seems to be going along rather swimmingly until one day Gideon has a change of heart. He has had a string of bad relationships and is scared of commitment so he decides that they should break-up. And in a case of kicking a woman while she’s down, Lauren also get dropped by her literary agent.
What’s a girl to do? If she’s Bridget Jones she chooses vodka and Chaka Khan. While Lauren partakes of some of this she also decides to write a book with some ground rules guiding people through what they shouldn’t do after a break-up. But rules are meant to be broken and Lauren doesn’t necessarily take her own advice. What follows is an exuberant play where many audience members will sit there nodding along because they’ve either done the tragic thing themselves or know someone who has.
The break-up of Lauren and Gideon also causes a rift in their friendship group because their mates are left to either choose a side or keep out of things. This play, which is directed by Emma Louise is essentially all about life in its full, messy glory. Damien – who is played by Tunks – is the group’s big Daddy and an ex-boyband member who is left bereft by his relationship break-up with actor boyfriend (Tom Harwood who does a fabulous job of juggling five very different characters). Damien actually shares a few things in common with Tom from Bridget Jones in that he’s still riding on the coattails of his previous fame.
The friendship group also includes the level-headed Sabrina (Sareena Barnes). She steers her friends on the right path for the most part, so it’s a shame that she can’t get things right in her own love life. She’s actually harbouring a massive crush on her fellow friend and nice guy, Jay (Tristan Lewis-Upton). Kelly (Amy Victoria Brooks who gives the most exaggerated performance but this is fitting for her character) on the other hand is an emotional train-wreck who is prone to drunken Facebook rants in the wake of her relationship splitting up.
It’s interesting to see how Tunks examines the different character’s idiosyncrasies. This is done well for the most part but there are moments when you feel like some of the characters could have been better developed and less caricature-like. This could be tricky as the show itself already goes for two hours.
This play’s plot is also peppered with interviews with each character who describe their worst break-up experiences. In these you get the full spectrum of emotions, much like psychiatrist, Elisabeth Kübler-Ross’ five stages of grief. We also get to see the medicine-like methods of choice for the various characters post-break-up including chocolate for Damien, vodka for Lauren and power ballads for Kelly. The soundtrack to this show is nothing short of excellent and includes The Whitlams’ “No Aphrodisiac,” Kim Wilde’s “You Keep Me Hangin’ On,” Oasis’ “Wonderwall,” and more.
Things Not To Do After A Break-up is the most fun you’ll ever experience after a relationship breakdown. It’s a funny anda tad exaggerated but ultimately rather relatable play that holds up a mirror to human neuroses and our messy love lives. Things Not To Do After A Break-Up is there to revel in the good, bad and the cringe-worthy and leaves us with the question, “Who’s up for some vodka and Chaka Khan?”
Website: http://thedepottheatre.com/things-not-to-do-after-a-break-up