Writer: Doe Wilmann
Director: Scott Le Crass
Reviewer: Christine Stanton
“Beautifully Moving”
4 / 5
~This review was originally written for The Reviews Hub~
The moment Lee meets Trudy, his whole world slows down – but not in the soppy, love at first sight chat-up line sense; he has a genuine medical concern that no diagnosis is seemingly able to explain.
The problem with time being 10 times slower than normal is that Lee (Ricky Oakley) is now stuck at his already busy nursing job for longer, movies take forever to get through, and all music sounds like distorted old records. The only time when he doesn’t mind the new warped time sensation he’s feeling is when he’s around Trudy (Kirsten Callaghan), whom he’s become increasingly fond of since their first encounter. Trudy also has a skewed outlook on time – she’s only been given a year to live, so every minute is a gift for her, which she plans on using to the best of her ability. Travelling the world, skydiving and creating a legacy are all at the top of her list; starting a relationship most definitely wasn’t, but her connection with Lee is impossible to ignore.
Doe Wilmann’s intricately endearing storyline explores the idea of time in a touching, thoughtful way, while simultaneously delivering a sweet, believable romance between the two very likeable leads. The central premise of two people experiencing life at different speeds is cleverly done, packing in a variety of interesting concepts about how individuals experience time, and philosophising on the impact of said time on connection, how we live our lives and ultimately how precious time truly is. What helps the concept work so well is the balance of their relatively ordinary relationship in parallel with the obscure time phenomenon he’s experiencing.
Callaghan and Oakley have brilliantly believable chemistry, their easy dialogue enjoyable and relatable. The first half is light, full of playful moments between the pair as they slowly get to get know each other, each scene a snapshot of a moment they spend together, whether it’s skydiving from a plane or enjoying their favourite band at a concert, it’s an easy way to pinpoint the progression of their relationship. Oakley’s bubbly persona, expert comedic timing and natural charisma work well with Callaghan’s likeable, relaxed, at ease presence on stage.
The second half of the show gets a lot heavier, and while there are still humorous moments woven into the dialogue, it’s a lot more heartfelt and emotional, with some deeply moving interactions that will bring a tear to your eye. The minimal staging – a bare set, with just a few white lightboxes, keeps the focus firmly on the performers. Although this mostly works throughout, during some of the quieter, lengthier scenes in the latter half of the show, the production could benefit from a bit more in the form of a stylistic change to break things up and accompany the shift in tone, because visually, it does get somewhat monotonous. The performers use the space well, though, and successfully deliver a beautifully moving story that tugs at the heartstrings.
Runs until 7 March 2026
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