The Beach House at the Park TheatrePractical and impatiently passive aggressive Kate (Kathryn Bond) struggles to cope with the sleepless nights and her own unmotherly instincts following the birth of daughter Lola. Meanwhile, her partner Liv (Gemma Lawrence) a musician and free spirit, is seemingly unable to adhere to a schedule of practical duties and cannot even prioritise submission of her own demo songs to meet a music publisher's deadline. It soon becomes apparent that it wouldn't take much to drive a wedge between them and right on cue Kate's younger, insecure, prodigal sister Jenny (Gemma Barnett) returns from her performance stint at a circus. Jenny's remarkable lack of meaningful attachment to her boyfriend (by whom she also becomes pregnant during the course of the play) remains unexplained as she responds to Liv's advances and her own yearnings for acceptance when the two are left alone.
Thankfully, Harper resists any urge to have the three set-up home together which would have been irritatingly convenient, but also eschews a dramatic confrontation when the infidelity becomes known. Instead, any fall-out manifests as Kate's somewhat sulky reference to "needing time to heal" as she ups stick and takes a promotion in Sydney to put some space between herself and Liv.
Unfortunately, whilst there is much to be admired in the slightly Bergman-esque story development, the narrative loses its sense of purpose and direction, resorting instead to a rushed and convenient ending. The performers acquit themselves well on the largely Spartan stage but disappointingly, there simply isn't reason enough to care what happens to any of the characters, which feels like a missed opportunity.
