Review: CALIFORNIA SUITE at Howick Little Theatre

The latest offering from Howick Little Theatre is going to leave you pondering on how we negotiate relationships.

The full house of supportive patrons was buzzing during the interval and at the conclusion of the play, a sign that they had indeed received a well-served portion of good theatre.

The set took us instantly back to a 1970's Hotel Room with its' style and presentation drawing the audience in before the play even began. Accolades to Pat Hudson, David Gifford Anna Baird and Laurie Mills for stellar work on the set design and decor.

Neil Simon's "California Suite," a 1970's series of stories set in a fictitious Beverly Hills Hotel Room gives us a snapshot of relationships and the human condition within 4 different scenarios. Sometimes funny, sometimes poignant each piece is engaging revealing a deeper more significant insight of the characters involved.

Directed by Mary Gray, each of the play's four stories is devoted to the relationship of one couple at a time with the exception of the final offering involving friendship between two couples.

First up is 'Visitor from New York'. Fiona Hall plays sharp-tongued Hannah Warren, who has flown to California to discuss with ex-husband, William played by David Steadman where their teenage daughter will ultimately and permanently live or which parent will "win" in their pitch to settle the question. The music under the words reveals the vulnerability of motherhood and the power game between the parents who have a less than desirable relationship as co-parents. Or do they? Hall is suitably tense and tries to claim power with ascorbic comments. Steadman absorbs them, occasionally defensive, but perhaps he has doesn't have to be to claim the power. You'll have to watch to find out!

Story Two: Marvin (AJ Johnson) and Millie (Bess Brookes) are visitors from Philadelphia. They are in California for the bar mitzvah of Marvin's nephew. How Bunny, (Anne Kendall) a passed-out hooker, ends up in Marvin's hotel room and in his bed, we don't really know. Actually, neither does Marvin. The trick is convincing his wife, Millie, that he really doesn't know how - or why - she's there. All eyes are on Millie's reaction and Bess Brookes keeps us guessing while Marvin wears himself out trying to appease her and seek atonement.

Next up are 'The Visitors from London'. Diana (Tracey Holdsworth) and Sidney (Tim Skinner) who try, by fits and starts, to gather themselves together before heading out to the Academy Awards presentation. Diana is a nominee. She is very much the diva and Sidney is her patient and dedicated husband. But is he? Holdsworth delivers her own brand of Penelope Keith and she is hilarious, anxious, vulnerable and accepting all within a very short time. Skinner balances her perfectly with his calm surety about precisely who and how he is. He accepts both duty and sense of self. Holdsworth and Skinner make a wonderful combination. Together they master revelation through subtleties and nuances and careful use of pitch, pace and pause, which are all convincingly executed.

The last occupants of the room, 'Visitors from Chicago' involves two couples who have been friends for years. Married couples, Mort (Tony Rahme) and Beth (Jenn Onyeiwu), are vacationing with Gert (Georgia Johnson) and Stu (Jake Le Jeunesse). This story involves high physical energy from emotionally heightened adults who have mostly gone beyond rational behaviour. Pulling off physical shtick on stage is difficult, the timing of the words and actions are crucial. Onyeiwu balances out the reactions and physicality with her well-timed lines and charismatic demeanour. Rahme and Le Jeunesse are well contrasted in physicality and persona while Johnson hurts herself unintentionally at every move.

For an intriguing and entertaining night get along and see this. Tickets ARE selling fast so don't be tardy.

California Suite
Howick Little Theatre
Until March 16
Book https://www.iticket.co.nz/events/2019/mar/california-suite