BWW Reviews: HOME LAND - Hard to Beat

There comes a point in every show where you make the decision if you like it or not, sometimes it could be half way, others it could be five minutes in (as bad as that is, it happens), but in most cases though it is at the end after you have talked about it, thought about it and reflected. This was not the case with Home Land. Within the first opening lines my choice was made and I was spot on for the entire show. This is the show to beat for any Director in 2010 for two reasons, the understanding of the script and the understanding of the playwrights intentions.

The opening moments of Home Land set it up. This is your own family on stage. This is your mother, your daughter, your dad, husband, wife and that older person in your family who just wants to live the rest of their life happy. Ken has lived on his farm for over forty years, he has lived here and raised his family and knows the area like the back of his own hand. But, Ken is now 80, he is going down-hill and his family think it is best for him to go into a rest home, Ken has different ideas. This is theatre that works for, it is just like that 'forth' wall has been lifted on ANY household. There are no moving sets, no flash lighting, no overtly clever staging it is just the six people faced with a problem working it out, working through it and working together.

If ever there was a cast assembled on a stage to rival any other this was it and every one of them deserves a mention. John Bach, Ross McKellar, Eilish Moran, Amy Straker, Sandra Rasmussen and Alistair Browning all portray the characters, understand the characters and quite frankly are our own families that we know, love and hate. Eilish Moran turns out a portrayal of every persons Mother right down to that evil little streak which is deep down in all of them, she is impressive, she is a smart actress and one that always turns out a stunner of a performance. Ross McKellar, who has directed children's shows at The Court makes a brilliant debut to the Court One stage being the blokey guy of the piece and he pitches it so perfectly that again you would be mistaken for thinking your own 'male' in your life is up on stage. Amy Straker who continues to impress ages down to a teenager that yet again people the night I saw the production recognized their own daughters, she starts out like any teenager does, lippy, grumpy and just moody but by the end has transformed that character (through events in the play) and has the most moving and touching of scenes that were top-notch and played with grace and understanding of The Situations. Alistair Browning has that tricky role of being the character that really is dragged along to the family home but has a point of view that is valid but no-one wants to hear it. He gave the piece a lighter and more comic feel when playing off other characters that was great relief and is usually saying what we all desperately want to. Sandra Rasmussen who normally has a glamorous feel or look to her characters (as that's what she does well) turns out the dream performance of the 'outside' person who wants to help, her vocal work, her physical work and her general stage presence is always outstanding and to be honest although one of the smaller roles was a standout. Finally, John Bach. Is there anything this man can't do? I could simply write a review about this man. He is bloody good, actually no, he is bloody perfect. Ken is a tricky role to play, we as an audience have to love him but yet find him somewhat negative at the same time. He is Ken, he is utterly believable and is just beyond words to describe.

However, the most praise must go to Stephanie McKellar-Smith. Her direction is seamless, intelligent, uncluttered and she clearly understood the playwrights intention and has worked wonders with this cast and .boy does she deliver. Her work is always to a very high standard and this exceeds it by a long shot. She has a lot to live up to in the future. How many positive words can one write about someone?

This play is a play about people, about emotions about all of us as human beings. The tag line on all the promotional material for this show reads 'Deeply moving, this award-winning play examines what we do with our aged.' and after watching my family, your family all of our families on the stage for the two hours is was clear that there is a reason it has won a multitude of awards. It is simply the most moving, touching, simple yet clever production to be on the Court One stage for a VERY long time. Oh, and by the way, take the tissues...even the hardest of men in the audience has been seen leaving the theatre tissues in hand.

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Home Land runs for another two weeks until the 20 March 2010
Written by; Stephanie McKellar-Smith
Monday & Thursday 6:00pm
Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday & Saturday 7:30pm
Running Time: 2 hours 10 Minutes
For more information, visit http://www.courttheatre.org.nz/

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