“Never Have I Ever,” the debut Australian production of Deborah Frances-White’s hit play, opened last night at the Arts Centre’s Fairfax Theatre, and I was fortunate enough to be in attendance. This sold-out success from the UK, directed by Tasnim Hossain, boasts a stellar cast of four seasoned professionals: Chika Ikogwe (Heartbreak High), Simon Gleeson (Les Misérables), Katie Robertson (Deadloch), and Sunny S Walia (Shantaram).
The play unfolds within the confines of a boutique restaurant over a single night, focusing on four long-time university friends now in their 30s and 40s. While the decades-long bond between them is evident, so too are the undercurrents of suppressed feelings and simmering tensions. As the wine flows, the carefully constructed facade begins to crumble, revealing the complexities of their relationships.
It all starts with bad news and serious discussions with interwoven humour, touching on everything from politics to reminiscing on the ‘old times’. Before we know it, this evening starts quickly spiralling into drunken debauchery and chaos as the group raid the wine cellar.
“Never Have I Ever” offers an honest social commentary on friendship, exploring themes of shared history, unspoken resentments, and the challenges of navigating life in your 30s and 40s. One investment, one restaurant, one bankruptcy, and one too many wines create the perfect storm for a dramatic and hilarious evening.
Hossain’s direction keeps the London setting which makes sense in the context of the political references to Brexit. This use of sound and lighting to create a movie-montage feel to signify the night plummeting into disarray is particularly effective.
The play is packed with comic one-liners, delivered with impeccable timing by the cast. The music, nostalgic of university parties, took me back to house parties in my early twenties and added another impressive layer to the performance.
The “most left-winged”, “woke” character played by Simon Gleeson was particularly impressive and convincing. Gleeson oozed charm and possessed excellent comedic timing. He truly embodied the show’s ‘villain’ whom everyone loved to hate.
Whilst all the English accents were were strong, Chika Ikogwe’s was so genuinely believable she could have stepped right off the tube. Each actor delivered the politically fuelled content with grounded honesty, making us truly feel like the fifth dinner guest at the dinner party.
Act one’s conclusion was particularly impressive and one that evoked audible shock—a real conversation starter. Gasps could be heard from the audience at blackout, and without giving anything away, a buzz of “what if?” filled the foyer during intermission which was infectious.
The pacing is excellent, balancing humour with enough substance to keep the story engaging and easy to follow. The actors’ comedic timing is superb, with well-placed silences enhancing the humour of certain jokes. The play tackles issues of racism, sexism, social status, and the human experience of making mistakes. The recurring use of Britney Spears’ “Toxic” is clever, seemingly highlighting the toxicity of a particular character and situation.
“Never Have I Ever” is clever comedy at its finest. Due to its crude nature, I would not recommend this show to those under 16 years. For adults however, it’s a show that will have you laughing one moment and contemplating the complexities of friendship the next. It’s running at the Fairfax Studio, Arts Centre Melbourne, until 22 March 2025.
