Reviews

After almost five months in which its only Christchurch presence was weekly performances of Scared Scriptless, the Court Theatre has made its triumphant return to the city with this long-planned production - albeit in a slightly different location to normal, the Aurora Centre.

And while many Court aficionados might have just been glad for the opportunity to enjoy the artistic fruits of New Zealand's premier theatre company, they've been rewarded all the more with an entertaining character-piece from some of its most talented players.

A lavish wedding reception is taking place at the bride's family home in Knoxville, Tennessee, but the bridesmaids are usually nowhere to be seen, instead hiding out in the bride's sister's bedroom. There the five very different women bond over their mutual ambivalence towards the bride, their feelings towards the titular blue dress, and their encounters with an offstage rogue by the name of Tommy Valentine.

Needless to say, such a story will always depend heavily on the success of the ensemble, and fortunately performances across the board are engaging. It's tough to pick a stand-out; every character is given her time to shine, the result being a consistently entertaining ride. It's testament perhaps to writer Alan Ball's script, but it's more likely down to the talents of the ensemble. Having completed a Dunedin season of the show, they're clearly at home in their respective roles, but still imbue them with a spark and vigour that keeps the show crackling.

Also acting in the show's favour is the design, a note-perfect execution of a bedroom inflicted on a girl growing up in a large well-to-do home. While the large auditorium of the Aurora Centre unfortunately doesn't provide the same intimate experience as Court One, the onstage work is impeccable; the detailed set, replete with well-chosen props and dressings and snatches of a hallway and walk-in closet visible beyond the room's doors provides an excellent window to the characters' world. Lit accordingly, it could serve as a film set.

The script, however, is not without its problems. The story takes a brief detour towards the serious in the second act, but departs again on a romantic plot, not to return again. Ball may have felt compelled to include it for some gravitas, trying to make the play say somewhat more than it might have otherwise, but it feels out of alignment with many of the story's other antics, and being later largely discarded it fails to become a significant part of the play's meaning. A lighter and more deft touch when dealing with the character in question's history might have been the better choice if it was not intended as a major focus of the play.

Nonetheless, the superb performances and unfailingly witty dialogue ensure it all remains a worthwhile night out, and a reminder that the Court Theatre's magic is more than just bricks and mortar.

- Sebastian Boyle

Five Women Wearing the Same Dress is playing at the Aurora Centre until this Saturday. Student tickets $27, available from www.courttheatre.org.nz

By Alan Ball
Directed by Lara Macgregor