The new stage adaptation of Charlotte Wood’s beloved novel, The Weekend, premiered on 5 August at the Belvoir St Theatre.
Adapted by playwright and screenwriter, Sue Smith, and directed by award winning director Sarah Goodes (The Sugar House), The Weekend showcases a talented ensemble of actors, including three formidable talents Belinda Giblin, Toni Scanlan and Melita Jurisic.
The play is about three elderly long-time friends Adele (Giblin), Jude (Scanlan) and Wendy (Jurisic) who reunite with one another after their beloved friend Sylvie dies. When the three women return to Sylvie’s beach house to pack up it up, they begin to reflect on their pasts and what it means to grow old.
Anchoring the three women is Wendy’s old dog Finn, who is a puppet performed by Keila Terncio. His movements are expertly manipulated by Keila and seem to echo both his decline and wisdom.
The set design remains simple but powerful, with much of the performance taking place on Sylvie’s deck, with a wooden table and chairs and a projection of the bush behind on a wall, immersing the audience in the environment.
I found that although the play looks at themes of death, secrets, unrealised dreams and grief, the performances were at times hilarious, easing the burden of these topics.
Giblin’s performance as Adele, a once-well-known actress is incredibly endearing and cements the trio’s friendship, Jurisic who plays Wendy, a high-profile academic, excellently captures her naivety and perceptiveness and finally, Scanlan’s performance as Jude, a restauranteur, is incredibly moving – embodying a strong woman who is gradually learning to open up.
This was an incredibly well executed adaptation, that will leave fans of Wood’s novel deeply satisfied. It’s a wonderful exploration of what it means to grow old in face of buried truths and unrealised hopes and dreams.
The Weekend will run from 5 August – 10 September at Belvoir St Theatre. Buy tickets HERE.
