Exploring the themes of love, loss, mental health and jealousy, the Roxy Lane Theatre One Acts presents ‘Moments in Motion’ across three one-act plays, ‘The Birthday’, ‘Mandy’ and ‘Flushed’. With such a broad spectrum of topics, this is one of those productions that resonates, compelling the audience to look within and draw on their own lived experiences.
In a world premiere and directed by Tim Riessen, ‘The Birthday’ kicks off the night and revolves around Mrs Little’s (Pauline Atkinson) 89th birthday. Despite the cake rustled up by a nurse (Nita Teoh), there’s little cause for celebration as Mrs Little is in a coma. As her adult children gather around her, they reminisce about their childhood, along with much speculation about whether their mum can hear them. For anyone who has sat beside a loved one in their final moments, ‘The Birthday’ hits a nerve as this touching scenario brings writer Peter Flanigan’s vision to life as Robyn (Michele Diston), Gail (Julia Webster), Phil (Ian Fraser) and Lesley (Kezia George) each share their truth.
Also written by Peter Flanigan, ‘Mandy’ explores the mental state of Mandy (Melissa Cruickshank) within the family dynamic. As Mandy comes to grips with her depression, her confused state of mind flows in ebbs and tides, throwing the family into despair. The chaos is further exasperated by her overbearing mum (Josphine Wayling) and husband (Paul Cook, who also plays her father) and misguided friend Fran (Joanne Low), with tumultuous flashbacks from Mandy’s sister (Emily Plange Korndorffer) and grandmother (Jenni Glassford). Mandy’s daughter Jodi (Tahlia Verna) seems to be the only empathetic one. Directed by Luke Heath with assistant director Rob Herfkens, ‘Mandy’ tackles the heavy issues and should come with a trigger warning for anyone dealing with mental health issues.
On a much lighter note, the final play, ‘Flushed’, invites the audience into the trials and tribulations of the dating scene. Set in the toilets during a single’s night, three women explore their jealousies and dating woes as the night dissolves into despair. Written by Ron Nicol, and directed by Sandhya Krishnan, who also plays Tara and is the cause of Meg’s (Catherine Jane) rivalry, with Jan’s (Jackie Oats) wry observations bringing humorous relief to the tension. If you’ve ever been on a girls’ night out, you’ll relate to this one.
The production crew worked tirelessly behind the scenes to bring these stories to life, including Katherine Robertson (sound and lighting design), Rob Herfkens (stage manager) and Cade Smith (assistant stage manager, who also had a cameo in ‘Mandy’).
A special mention must go to set builder Jim Chantry, who managed to create three entirely different stage sets seamlessly, along with Jim Chantry, Kirsten Halford-Bailey (who also handled the set dressing and props) and Chris Harris.
Moments in Motion runs from 18th – 21st September 2025 at the Roxy Lane Theatre, 55 Ninth Ave (cnr Roxy Lane), Maylands
To book tickets to Moments in Motion, please visit https://www.taztix.com.au/event/roxylanetheatre/.
