Director/Writer/Producer: Rye Inglis
Starring: Te Aniwaniwa Leefe, Joseph Morcom, Rosie Williamson, Iain Hannam-Williams & Sapphire Rickard
7-10 November 2024, The Meteor
Actor and filmmaker Rye Inglis made her playwrighting and directorial debut last night at The Meteor as part of the HIKO! Festival. Inglis’ latest production Bottle Episode is about a group of 20-somethings who get trapped in their flat for the weekend. When it is revealed that a visitor happens to be the ex-girlfriend of another, tensions boil over.
First things first, the set was properly curated. Thought had been given to the colourways and style of furniture. This was definitely not a set that had been thrown together at the last minute from pieces scavenged around town. The addition of some lamps provided a homely ambience, and in conjunction with Guy Coker’s smart lighting design the overall feeling was warm and relaxed.
Each character was well-defined, and the actors were able to explore their limits. Te Aniwaniwa Leefe (Eloise), Rosie Williamson (Sienna), Sapphire Rickard (Holly) and Iain Hannam-Williams (Mateo) were impressive individually and together. Joseph Morcom as Wesley was a complete delight, especially in heightened moments when he got to really work his comedic chops.
Once the actors found their stride in terms their pace of delivery, the script really shone. Inglis sense of humour, the ridiculous, and understanding of conflicts and subplots was outstanding. The dialogue was contemporary without being outrageous, and Inglis had included a lot of witty repartee.
For an inaugural directing attempt, Inglis showed great promise and vision. The cast were well-rehearsed and comfortable together. They certainly embraced the concept of ‘heartwarming camaraderie.’
Bottle Episode is an entertaining night out. At 90 minutes duration including intermission, you will walk out smiling (and quite possibly relieved that your flatting days are behind you). There are performances on Friday and Saturday nights, and a matinee has been added on Sunday.
One line about life was quite memorable, and I’ll leave you with that ‘…there’s people, music and art, and we get to experience all of that.’ Yes, we do.
Image: Mark Jephson/Waikato Times
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