Review: TWACAS

By Jodi Yeats

Sam Berkley almost lacked the confidence to write this play, TWACAS 'The West Auckland Cardigan Appreciation Society', but was buoyed on by the encouragement and feedback of friends.

Luckily for audiences, who can now enjoy a hilarious evening’s entertainment that’s all the better for being set close to home in west Auckland. I imagine the group of recent Unitec graduates comprising Catalyst Theatre Company had as much fun rehearsing the play as the audience are having watching it.

A friend described the play as “Outrageous Fortune meets Flight of the Conchords” and that’s very apt. Three, somewhat nerdy, westies form a club, inspired by their appreciation of cardigans, but really to meet boys or girls and make friends. When glamorous Lara and dolphin-training charmer Bruce join the club, things are shaken up.

In particular, it turns out, Grand Cardigan Les has a dark past and his disillusioned friends turf him out of the club. What ensues is a stormy period for the now leaderless club with jealousies and deceit threatening to ruin the budding friendships.

Each of the actors plays their part to a tee and it’s easy to imagine the parts could have been written with them in mind. The directing is great, with nice use of the entire stage and minimal props that evoke an old school, community hall, and excellent physical theatre in gestures and expressions.

Between sets piano music evokes the farces my grandmother used to act in many years ago when she was involved in repertory theatre, where plays were staged in a, similar, basic community hall out west.

One of the high points of the play involves several club members doing items as part of “Cardigan Idol”. Les (Jonathan Hodge) and Tim (Sam Berkley) who are work colleagues in a paper shredding factory break out of their shy persona and do a stunning rap piece, and Bruce plays a key board and sings a melodious and slightly disturbing piece about rescuing a duckling.

In all, an evening of fun, where audiences are also likely to make poignant personal connections, offered by a talented young theatre group.

TWACAS 'The West Auckland Cardigan Appreciation Society'

Written by Sam Berkley
Directed by Edward Peni