Circa sparks up a classic
Weed, Written by Anthony McCarten, directed by Ross Jolly, Circa Theatre, Wellington, until July 29
Currently, marijuana is hitting the headlines for its medicinal use. But, 25 plus years ago following the 1987 stockmarket crash, cashstrapped farmers growing it for sale as a source of income was in the news.
Of course, other sections of society were also benefiting from selling it, but it was the cultivation by farmers, the backbone of New Zealand’s economy, that intrigued playwright Anthony McCarten and stimulated him to write Weed in 1990.
The play was a hit then and no doubt, with Circa Theatre’s great new production just opened, it will be a hit again.
It’s not just for its nostalgic value though because the simple yet effective story is exceptionally well told and the characters are real and believable and wonderfully brought to life.
With the help of Jack’s nephew Hugh (Simon Leary) providing the seedlings and Henry’s new-found townie friend Terry (Bronwyn Turei), who has come to visit, everything looks very rosy. But then things don’t quite turn out as planned and tensions mount.
To say that the two main characters are ‘‘real Kiwi blokes’’ is somewhat of a cliche these days, but that is exactly what they are and as portrayed by Rutherford and Foster, are the epitome of stereotypical NZ males.
In the role of Henry, Rutherford shows the nuances of a man out of his depth perfectly. He knows farming but little else and his inability to understand what he is letting himself in for – as well as his ineptitude in dealing with a younger woman – are both hilariously funny and heartbreaking.
In contrast, Foster conveys Jack’s know-all, arrogant attitude with great confidence, the character everyone loves to hate.
As the perpetually stoned nephew Hugh, Leary nails the character completely, playing being high as if it were natural while Turei has energy to burn as she manipulates the situation for her own benefit.
With its wonderfully naturalistic setting, life-like characters and fast-flowing production that runs the full spectrum of comedy to tragedy, Weed has it all and director Ross Jolly and his team are to be commended for reviving this iconic New Zealand play.
– Ewen Coleman