The Unfriend is one of the most hyped plays of Sydney Theatre Company’s season this year, with Australian acting legend Helen Thomson in the lead role and a play direct from the UK that brings together American and British humour, with a topical Australian ‘fungal’ background.
In the play, American Elsa Jean Krakowski meets British couple Peter and Debbie Lindell on a cruise before they welcome her into their family home, setting up a comedy of manners that quickly descends into chaos. However, not all is as it seems, with it quickly being established that Krakowski is a serial killer who Peter and Debbie do not want in their home. As chaos ensues and the couple try to find any way possible to get Krakowski out of their home, she quickly befriends their two kids and makes the whole situation even more complicated.
The immediate thing that draws focus in this production is the set of the Roslyn Packer Theatre, with some quick costume and set changes leading to audible gasps from the audience. As always, Sydney Theatre Company is at the forefront with things like this and Isabel Hudson is to be commended for her engaging representation of British streets that really pulls people in, with the set providing an impressive backdrop for the increasingly chaotic events that unfold.
The acting in the play is led by Thomson as Krakowski and she does a fantastic job of bringing a brash energy to the play which really acts as the centrepiece for the rest of the action while Alex Lee as Debbie and Tim Walter as Peter are both excellent at playing their foils to Krakowski’s larger-than-life personality. Meanwhile, Ty Arnott as Alex and Brooklyn Davies as Rosie bring great energy as dour kids who fall in love with Krakowski, with her unapologetic approach to life providing a welcome contrast to their usual family environment (a special shout-out must go to Davies, who sat her HSC English exam on the day of the performance).
Another highlight is Huw Higginson as the neighbour, who brings a dry British humour to the role which is a really nice touch. Ben Wood rounds out the cast as the police officer, providing another source of comedy as the situation spirals further out of control, with a slapstick routine with a toilet brush and much disarray. In this scene, pandemonium ensues, eliciting a huge amount of laughs from the audience (although I did hear a whisper behind me from a patron who said she was just about to walk out). Indeed, it was a scene that you would either laugh at or be totally disgusted by and this was the case for a lot of the humour, with many of the jokes landing but quite a few not having quite the effect that was intended. While the contrast between British politeness and American bluntness provides plenty of opportunities for comedy, not every gag hits its mark and some of the more exaggerated moments may not appeal to everyone.
Simon Phillips’ directing was precise and considered, while all of the elements of this show were very well put together. It was only in some moments of the script where things slightly fell apart with the comedy occasionally feeling a little uneven despite the strength of the performances and the production as a whole.
Overall, this is a fun piece that doesn’t say anything too serious but is a good comedic watch for those interested in having some fun, Thomson is the star of this show but the whole cast complements her well and the production values, especially Isabel Hudson’s set, are extraordinary, as always with Sydney Theatre Company. In a mind-bogglingly good season, this is perhaps not the strongest play that Sydney Theatre Company has put on this year but it’s definitely a fun watch and is recommended for anyone looking for a good time.
Rating: ★★★★
The Unfriend plays at the Roslyn Packer Theatre until 31 October. For more information, click here.
All photo credits: Prudence Upton
