Fun times trying out new cash crop

CRISIS: The cast of Wellington's Circa Theatre production of Weed, in a scene from a revival of the play in 2017. Auditions for the Unity Theatre production will be this Saturday. Picture by Stephen A'Court

Gisborne Unity Theatre is looking forward to their next production, Weed, which is sure to turn heads.

Auditions for the comedy are at the group's Ormond Road threatre this Saturday and director James Packman says he is excited to finally have the show up and running.

“I have wanted to do this show for the past five years but it wasn't on the to-do list until Unity gave it the green light this year.”

Playwright Anthony McCarten — who went on to screenwriting success with The Theory of Everything (2014) and Bohemian Rhapsody (2018) — wrote Weed in 1990.

It was a time when Kiwi farmers were struggling. In McCarten's play, two of them are under financial stress when they happen on an ingenious way to make some money.

Without giving too much away, Packman says the “dinkum Kiwi blokes” hear that growing marijuana might be a “good way” to secure a profitable income.

“So they get into that and then along comes their stoner nephew Matthew — who is a bit of a crook — with his girlfriend.

“What happens next is a comedic set of events that hopefully brings a smile when you see it.”

Packman first read the script about six years ago, and it caught his interest.

“I liked it because I like doing New Zealand comedies and I thought this was a story that would really strike a chord with people.

“They are everyday characters. It shows how desperate people can become when the need arises. It could possibly happen to anyone.”

For Saturday's audition, James says he will be looking out for people who can display their own take on the four characters and who he thinks would do the roles justice.

Rehearsals will start in early September. The play is set to open on November 12, and the season will run until November 19.