The Vegemite Tales

Published Thursday 9 June 2005 at 15:20 by Paul Vale

Set in a flatshare in Acton, The Vegemite Tales witnesses the trials and tribulations of life for a group of Australians living in London. While not the first time this Antipodean tale has been told on these shores, the script sparkles with life and a wit and freshness rarely seen on the fringe today. There is more than a touch of the sitcom about this play and yet it is the sheer theatricality and that connection with a live audience that makes it work so well.

Andrew Robb as Sam is the father figure of the house and welcomes us into their home with an abundance of New World charm. Many of the characters we meet appear fairly stereotypical and yet as the play progresses the characterisations grow stronger so that even the bitchy Melbourne actress Jane, played brilliantly by Sarah Hadland, is not quite as she seems.

Tom Sangster and Dan Steel goof around superbly as Sheila-hungry clowns while Jessica Gerger gives a touching performance as the artist Gemma, whose personal dilemma adds a good deal of drama and saves us from the boys’ hysterical, unrelenting search for the next root. Sarah McGlade is wonderful as the feisty Maddie and Andy Leonard rings the changes as the Italian waiter Gio.

This is a perfect piece of tight, ensemble acting with pacey direction from Bill Buckhurst, full of good humour and extremely sharp character observations recommended to anyone, Australian or otherwise, who enjoys cracking comedy theatre.