No weak links makes Wolves a winner

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

REVIEW: THE WOLVES

Unity Theatre’s production of The Wolves, which opened last night, is pacy, humorous and action-packed with never a dull moment.

Set at an indoor soccer field somewhere in Middle America, each scene is a Saturday practice where the team of nine navigate their relationships while pursuing the sport they are passionate about.

The players are hoping to be spotted by talent scouts and get into a good university team.

The set at Unity Theatre has been converted into a soccer stadium — think astro turf with the audience seated in bleachers on the periphery.

It opens with the team chatting away while warming up.

The discussion ranges from the genocide in Cambodia by the Khmer Rouge in the 1970s to speculating about their latest team mate, who is homeschooled and lives in a yurt.

She also happens to be an excellent player, considering she hasn’t played before.

The dialogue is quick, quirky and true to life, with the cast breaking into smaller groups and carrying on their own conversations, often talking over one another.

The climax occurs at the beginning of the second half. It is tragic and life-changing and ultimately brings the team closer.

Stand-out performances on opening night came from the sarcastic, sassy and often foul-mouthed Amelia Clapham who has attitude in spades; and Grace McVey, who brought lots of laughs as a daft and wacky midfielder.

But talent abounds through the whole cast which, like a winning soccer team, has no weak links.

The girls have come into their own under the direction of Iscah Montgomerie who has worked closely with each of them helping hone their onstage characters right down to smaller personality quirks like the brainy Eva Van Den Heuvel, who is forced to wear protective head-gear to prevent concussion, and the anxious goalie, played by Paula Irmler, who has to run offstage to vomit before every match.

The actors manage complicated dialogue while deftly controlling the ball and doing warm-up exercises such as stretches and knee-high runs from one end of the stage to the other.

This ever-changing choreography happens seamlessly and works well to keep the plot moving and the audience engaged.

Tackling a play like this has been a great opportunity for the young and all-female cast to sharpen their craft under the direction of an experienced actor.

Expect to see more from this talented team of thesps onstage in Gisborne and no doubt further afield.

Many months of rehearsing have paid off so get along and see for yourselves.

Credit also to the production team for a top-notch set, lighting and sound.

This production is the result of the hard work of many, all done for the love of theatre. They deserve a full house.

■ The Wolves is running at Unity Theatre from April 21 to 29. Go to Eventfinda for tickets. There are door sales.