The cosy, intimate setting of The Castle suits this play, although Herman Visagie's hilarious portrayal of the shy and bumbling Mr Causeway would have benefited from his office having been placed slightly further back from the audience - from our side table it was sometimes hard to see his face completely - something our table found frustrating.
Natalee Gaston plays Tiffany and brings plenty of comedic talent to the role. Her actions and facial expressions while the action was taking place elsewhere on stage has the audience laughing frequently. At times this could be a distraction to the action elsewhere on the stage, but it also added to the feeling of eavesdropping on the conversations happening on the stage, making the experience intimate and personal.
Elicia-May Hitchcock gives the role of Janice, weary mother of many children, some real depth and is possibly the most relatable of the characters on stage for much of the play. While part of this is thanks to the excellent writing of Anna Longaretti, a lesser actress would not do the role as much justice as Elicia-May does or would turn the character into a cliche, something Elicia-May avoids.
Paula Stieller's Sylvie draws plenty of sympathy from the audience as she is caught up in her longing for a baby. Paula plays the part well and manages to keep the balance between humour and the very personal subject being discussed.
Leanne Hartley's Lily is also well acted and her interactions with Mr Causeway are great to watch, while her final lines in the play are a beautifully delivered poignant reminder that this is indeed, a play about love, life and everything in between.
Director Tracey Blake has chosen her cast well, and presents us with a good play that is far more than just cheap laughs and sleazy jokes.
If you haven't got tickets yet, make sure you enjoy an evening out in a comfortable, intimate theatre with some great talent on stage.
Disclosure: Director Tracey Blake is an employee of NZME.