For the first time PitchWhite Productions’ latest play is not written by PitchWhite’s founder Lochie Daniel but instead the company has embarked in a new direction of performing the works of other writers as well as Daniel’s plays and Querencia Calling is the launch of this change.
Querencia Calling is Writer Sharyn Henderson’s first full-length play. Her passion for theater began in 2023 writing and performing monologues and short plays in a “rehearsed reading” format with the Scratch Night writing program in Sale, Gippsland. During the writing Henderson collaborated with dramaturg Brooke Fairly through Melbourne Writers Theatre’s Page to Stage program and this partnership has produced this first-rate debut. With this splendid material local directorial stalwart Geoff Brittain (fresh from productions with the Therry Theatre, St Jude’s Players, The Adelaide Repertory Theatre and others) does a very good job in coordinating it with the outstanding cast in the space allowed at the Star Theatre.
The play draws forty-something long term friends Clare (Alicia Zorkovic), Belinda (Georgia Stockham), Meredith (Perrin Abbas) and Simon (L. A. Foale) back together in a bar after being separated for a period of time. Clare has just returned from nursing in England, Meredith has been promoting her latest novel, Belinda has been juggling the needs of four children and her husband and Simon is fresh from a relationship breakup. In their reunion the friends are missing Emma (Cheryl Douglas), who has been the glue of the group, helping each of them in many ways throughout the length of their friendships. They look to Emma’s closest friend in the group, Belinda, for an explanation for Emma’s absence but, with annoyance of Emma missing Belinda’s son’s eighteenth birthday party, she doesn’t know what has happened. Emma invites the friends to her family-owned cabin for the weekend which they accept to find out what has happened to their friend.
The limited space of the Star Theatre doesn’t hinder the flow of Querencia Calling, instead it brings the audience closer to the actors in a more intimate fashion. Sometimes productions of this nature can clank around the empty spaces of larger halls. Similarly, due to the confines of the space, the set is kept to a minimum however limits of the staging are overcome by the skills of the actors. Georgia Stockman is outstanding in her loud and bold portrayal of Belinda. L. A. Foale is also very good as Simon and the rest of the cast handles all of their roles well.
The songs used in addition adds to the reunion feel of the production incorporating REM’s Losing My Religion, Spice Girls, Shania Twain, Chumbawamba, Los del Rio’s Macarena and others.
Sharyn Henderson says her “play is about human connection. It urges us to listen – both with curiosity and kindness – to what is said and left unsaid.” Geoff Brittain says the play reminds “us of the power of connection to lighten even the heaviest of loads.” Querencia Calling is excellent and is definitely worth seeing before the end of its limited season.
Reviewed by Rob McKinnon
Rating; 8 out of 10
Querencia Calling runs to 28 June 2025; remaining session dates and times are as follows:-
– Thursday 26 June 2025 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM
– Friday 27 June 2025 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM
– Saturday 28 June 2025 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM
– Saturday 28 June 2025 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM
To book tickets to Querencia Calling, please visit https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing/1385333.
