Year’s final production right train of thought
Deviating from the railway tracks behind the theatre, the comedy express arrived on Napier Repertory Players’ stage to deliver an uplifting final season for 2022.
Written by award-winning Dunedin-based playwright Tim Hambleton, who is a lawyer by profession while being a prolific comedy writer by choice, On the Right Track takes the audience to New Zealand’s 1981 winter of discontent through a humorous story of four railway workers, doing very nicely down on a forgotten permeant way.
Their nice little earner is about to be threatened by a visit from a man in a grey suit.
John Cocking delivered a mesmerising performance, looking and speaking the part of a pompous official S Pugh.
His role gained him no sympathy in his pursuit of the fearless foursome, especially as he matched wits with the long-suffering foreman Dunc, played with passion by Rob Dallas, who was not only protecting secrets but was also in conflict with his son Michael.
Playing that role was Jack Garvey who delivered some of the best lines in the play in a matter-of-fact youthful way that entranced his audience. Old Lag Barry, played by Chris Chambers, was the character of the story. He was up to everything, including nocturnal activity that threatened their jobs.
In a male-dominated environment, Hayley Munro did a stellar job of holding her own while her appropriate facial expressions were worth the price of admission alone.
All five actors had a good understanding of their characters which allowed confident delivery, giving clarity to their jokes.
The timing was good, with excellent projection of voices and director David Brock kept the story under tight control.
His castings were spot on and he never allowed energy levels to lower along with his functional set design, although having Cocking arrive for a scene through the toilet door was strange, to say the least.
Sound and lighting were to Peter Hurley’s high standards and sourcing props from the Opapa Railway Station gave a nice, authentic touch.
While set in 1981 this story is not a history lesson, you do not need to have a grasp of the times to appreciate the humour. Conflict is universal and we can all relate to the situations we see on stage.
On the right track is an idiom for choosing the correct path and Napier Repertory Players certainly have chosen well for this final production for 2022.