Nestled in the affluent leafy western suburbs of Perth a dramedy unfolds between childless couple Mr and Mrs Sheridan, two burglars and Mr Sheridan’s mistress.
Written by Perth playwright, Yvette Wall and directed by Russell Chandler, the Roxy Lane Theatre presents a play that breaks through the superficial exteriors of society which categorises people into classes to reveal characters that perhaps are not so different from one another.
As Chandler puts it “what is the real difference between successful white collar middle aged Western Suburbs dwellers and younger disaffected and troubled youth that have fallen off the tracks?”
When seasoned burglar Jake and his accomplice and first-time home intruder, Marilyn break into the Sheridan’s house, they don’t get very far in their quest to steal when Max Sheridan arrives home early with his mistress Zoe. Unbeknownst to Max and Zoe who are in the living room, Jake and Marilyn are hiding in the master bedroom. It doesn’t take long until the four become acquainted. A brawl between Max and Jake ensues and just when things couldn’t get worse for Max, his wife arrives homes.
The play gives the audience the opportunity to see the different dynamics between the characters and a deeper insight into who they are. In the first scene it’s Jake and Marilyn. Both characters are troubled young souls who got an unfair start to life and haven’t done much to turn their lives around. It is revealed that Marilyn has a young son in foster care and is in an abusive relationship. Underneath Jakes tough exterior he cares for Marilyn and tries multiple times to get her to see that her abusive Paul does not love her.
When Jake and Marilyn are hiding in the bedroom, the audience gets to see the dynamic between Max and Zoe which is funny and playful until Zoe drops a bombshell of secret and shows him a picture that will change his life forever.
The final scene is between Max and his psychologist wife Beth which I’m not sure how realistic their resolution is but it’s fair to say it appears to end well for all five characters.
Out of all the characters, Beth, played with such grace and elegance by Emma Kirby, is the most kind-hearted and likeable. The other actors Michael Hewson, Genevieve Wilson, Chris Harris and Lisa Divall were all convincing in their performances and it was clear to see the stage chemistry between them all.
At Home with the Sheridan is an enjoyable, short and sweet play that takes a light-hearted and humorous approach to societal structures.
To book tickets to At Home With The Sheridans, please visit https://www.taztix.com.au/roxylanetheatre/.
