Hawkes Bay Today
  • Hawke's Bay Today home
  • Latest news
  • Sport
  • Business
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Property
  • Video
  • Death notices
  • Classifieds

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • On The Up
  • Sport
  • Business
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Property
    • All Property
    • Residential property listings
  • Rural
    • All Rural
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology

Locations

  • Napier
  • Hastings
  • Havelock North
  • Central Hawke's Bay
  • Tararua

Media

  • Video
  • Photo galleries
  • Today's Paper - E-Editions
  • Photo sales
  • Classifieds

Weather

  • Napier
  • Hastings
  • Dannevirke
  • Gisborne

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / Hawkes Bay Today

Review Theatre HB, Playhouse: Poignant family drama

By Keith Russell
Hawkes Bay Today·
13 Mar, 2018 07:24 PM3 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  Sign in here

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save

    Share this article

A scene from Goodbye to All That. Photo by Ken Morrison

A scene from Goodbye to All That. Photo by Ken Morrison

What: Goodbye to All That
Where: Theatre HB, Playhouse Theatre, Hastings St, Hastings.
When: March 15 to March 24 7.30pm. Tickets at iticket.co.nz
Reviewed by: Keith Russell

It is said we spend 45 minutes a week nursing regrets, and with this in mind British actor Luke Norris makes his professional debut as a writer exploring the premise of leaving no stone unturned to 'live your life to the full'.

After 45 years of marriage, another women appears on the scene and while theatre is full of dramas involving the eternal triangle, what makes this story so excitingly different is an emotional twist that you will not see coming.

Director Trevor Rose has the complexity to deal with around 15 short scenes of emotional confrontation all varying in different writing styles'

Neil McCorkell makes little apology for his character's selfish stab at fulfilment, his portrayal of Frank isn't at times sympathetic but no matter its recognisable and focuses on the writer's objectives.

Jill Foster as his wife makes a magnificent job of playing the loyal woman reacting with denial, disbelief and embittered fierceness.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Adrienne Hurley as Rita, the other woman, was given the hard job of a slow start but her role only gets stronger as the second half unfolds.

Her hospital scene was a highlight with clever timing adding to the drama being played out before us.

Mike McConnell gives a detailed performance as David the grandson who discovers the affair and his line of "I thought you were a decent. A decent man. Shows what I know" really encapsulates the whole story.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

This is intimate theatre, you will sit very close to the actors allowing you to see their facial expressions of pain or joy and try as you may it is very hard to remain detached as an audience member as the story is played out.

Actor's sound projection is good, with clear strong voices at all times. No curtain is used just some clever lighting designed by Charlotte Frogley and John Price is to be congratulated for his excellent set décor.

My only criticism is towards the writer who only gives us one hour fifteen minutes of story, another fifteen minutes would have allowed further character development and maybe answer the many questions the story raises.

I enjoyed this family drama even if a little underdeveloped and I am sure you will too, as the poignant and bitterly funny story unfolds.

Save

    Share this article

Latest from Lifestyle

Hawkes Bay Today

Top drop: Hawke's Bay Merlot crowned best in world at global awards

05 Jun 03:34 AM
Lifestyle

Volunteering goes digital: Hawke’s Bay charities embrace remote roles

Lifestyle

How John Scott’s design philosophy shapes a new generation of architects

05 Apr 05:00 PM

Kaibosh gets a clean-energy boost in the fight against food waste

sponsored
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from Lifestyle

Top drop: Hawke's Bay Merlot crowned best in world at global awards

Top drop: Hawke's Bay Merlot crowned best in world at global awards

05 Jun 03:34 AM

NZ wineries won three out of nine international trophies at an annual wine contest.

Volunteering goes digital: Hawke’s Bay charities embrace remote roles

Volunteering goes digital: Hawke’s Bay charities embrace remote roles

How John Scott’s design philosophy shapes a new generation of architects

How John Scott’s design philosophy shapes a new generation of architects

05 Apr 05:00 PM
‘Edgy’ comedian Jimmy Carr set to return to the NZ regions he previously roasted

‘Edgy’ comedian Jimmy Carr set to return to the NZ regions he previously roasted

01 Apr 03:45 AM
Engage and explore one of the most remote places on Earth in comfort and style
sponsored

Engage and explore one of the most remote places on Earth in comfort and style

NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • Hawke's Bay Today e-edition
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Subscribe to the Hawke's Bay Today
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • NZME Events
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP