Nowhere, baby, written by Melanie Allison, and directed by Caroline Waugh and Freya Gardener. On at The Meteor October 17 to 22. More info: themeteor.co.nz/event/nowhere-baby-by-melanie-allison/
Reviewed by: CATE PRESTIDGE
It's exciting to see new work on stage and especially so when it combines a skilled cast, thoughtful direction, relatable themes, and well-honed words. Nowhere, baby explores that niggly space between the certainty of high school (however good or bad) and the big 'what's next? It considers the changes that take place as relationships shift and you start to consider who you really are or want to be.
Through the characters of three school friends Jackie (Clare McDonald), Dawn (Mikayla Williamson) and Lucas (Libbie Gillard), Allison has captured a sense of the changes that swirl about as they hunker down one stormy weekend in a family bach.
The play is well structured, and Allison's programme note mentions development, workshops and rewrites after early performances.
The play uses some traditional storytelling devices in the set-up by placing our teenage characters away from home, holed up against a natural antagonist but I think the process of rigorous workshopping has borne fruit.