Greg and Denise are downsizing and are running a garage sale full of doilies and unmentionables, bric-a-brac, and a large array of hats, which are only outnumbered by Greg’s extensive VHS collection. Denise is keen to offload as much as she can as quickly as possible, particularly Greg’s memorabilia of pop star Christina Aguilera. And all of his bottles. But Greg, the hoarder, wants to keep it all.
The detail
in the set decoration is amusing in and of itself. The old copies of Woman’s
Day and TV Week. The titles on the video tapes. Actor and improvisor Alanah
Parkin is on stage as Denise when the audience wanders in, as if we’re there to
peruse the knick-knacks of her life. Denise welcomes us, details the story of
her family –Greg and their three estranged daughters, who were all emancipated
as minors, the first hint that there’s more going on in Narre Warren South than
first meets the eye.
Parkin
plays a number of characters throughout the show – and saying who appears next
after they disappear for a quick change would spoil the fun, but most of the
show centres on Greg and Denise and Parkin is delightful as both. But while
Denise is the typical neighbourhood busy-body, Greg has a dark side that
threatens to be exposed at any moment. But don’t be too worried; their secrets
are all hilariously bonkers.
Parkin does
an excellent job at delivering multiple absurd characters throughout the show. They
make the most out of parodying suburban life and taking potshots at the worries
of old married couples. Parkin doesn’t hold back from pushing far into the
ridiculous and it’s a pleasure to see how nutty it all gets.
When they disappear backstage for their quick changes, there’s audio of the couple arguing out-of-sight, which is a fine way to pass the time, but these moments could benefit from being tightened. After a few of these, it tests the audience relationship a bit. Parkin doesn't just rely on audio of these tranisions, though. They also show an hilarious video of a young Greg dealing with being fired from the boys’ choir when his voice breaks. And as the drama ramps up, we’re treated to a news break as the choppers circle overhead.
This show is
a superb showcase of Parkin’s talent for the absurd and an array of comic
characters in a tale that goes places you could never guess and will never see
again. It’s very silly and very funny.
- Keith Gow, Theatre First
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