Since he and his theatre company Mockingbird Theatrics became theatre-company-in- residence at Belco Arts, Chris Baldock has been exciting Canberra theatregoers with the excellence of his productions.
Memorable productions of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time and When the Rain Starts Falling have paved the way for this latest production with which Mockingbird Theatrics have achieved something of a coup by staging the first Australian production of Meteor Shower.
Steve Martin wrote Meteor Shower in 2016. When it was presented on Broadway in 2017 it won its star, Amy Schumer, a Tony Award for her performance as Corky, the role being played in this production by Jess Beange. If Schumer was even half as good as Beange in this role, then her Tony Award was richly deserved.
However, this production is very much an ensemble show, with each of the four actors carefully cast and brilliantly directed.
Set in California in 1993, the play follows married couple Corky (Jesse Beange) and Norman (Sachin Nayak) who invite another couple, Gerald (Anto Hermida) and Laura (Maxine Eayrs) over for dinner in their home, ostensibly to watch a once-in-a-lifetime meteor shower.
Corky and Norman evidently do not know their guests, nor each other, very well. As they anxiously prepare their sophisticated starlit dinner party with the intention of impressing their guests, their conversation takes on a philosophical tone, revealing underlying tensions.
With the arrival of Laura and Gerald, whose strategy in one-upmanship is to damn with faint praise, matters rapidly, and hysterically, descend into chaos.
Steve Martin’s play has the potential to be an elegant drawing-room comedy filled with sophisticated and witty dialogue. However, this production diverges significantly from that expectation. While the witty dialogue remains, Martin employs an imaginative approach to handling timeframes and common sense.
Baldock and his actors, are perfectly aware of this and take advantage of every opportunity to push absurdity to the limit. Played out in a luxurious multi-level setting, representing an elegant lounge room and outdoor patio, with the audience seated around three sides, there is nowhere for the actors to hide. Nor do they want to.
The physical comedy is as delicious as the verbal and this quartet know exactly how to play it without descending into buffoonery.
Jesse Beange shines as Corky, the determined wife trying to support her pretentious husband Norman, played by Sachin Nayak. Norman struggles to maintain calm while hoping his wife can find solutions.
Maxine Eayrs and Anto Hermida both deliver outstanding performances as Laura and Gerald, their sophisticated guests. These characters intrigue their host not only with their keen observations but also with perhaps deeper intentions beyond mere discussions of meteors.
The set decoration was superb, and the projections, sound, and lighting effects executed by Rhiley Winnett were outstanding. These included an impressive simulation of a meteor storm.
Although the storyline may initially seem perplexing, once it becomes clear that the playwright is unconcerned with realism or conventional logic, one can appreciate the creative manner in which Baldock, and his actors have embraced the comedic potential of the material.
Their efforts have culminated in a refined production distinguished by its exceptional production values and execution. This production is highly recommended for anyone seeking a diverting, high-quality theatrical experience.
Meteor Shower
Belconnen Arts Centre, 118 Emu Bank, Belconnen (ACT)
Performance: Thursday 26 June 2025
Season continues to 5 July 2025
Bookings: www.belcoarts.com.au
For more information, visit: www.mockingbirdtheatrics.com for details.
Images: Maxine Eayrs as Laura and Anto Hermida as Gerald in Meteor Shower – photo by Chris Baldock | Anto Hermida as Gerald as Jess Beange as Corky in Meteor Shower – photo by Chris Baldock | Sachin Nayak as Norm Meteor Shower – photo by Chris Baldock | Maxine Eayrs as Laura and Anto Hermida as Gerald in Meteor Shower – photo by Chris Baldock
Review: Bill Stephens OAM