I first went to the 1812 Theatre in Upper Ferntree Gully when I was 14 with my parents. I clearly remember that first visit, and they still give out orange juice or glass of wine at the end of the play. I still choose the orange juice haha, but my friend said the wine was very nice. In all the productions I’ve seen at the venue over many years, The Sweet Delilah Swim Club, in my opinion, is for me now in my 50s, the best.
My friend leaned over to me after the opening Act and said “this is going to be good”, and it was; every bit, start to end in an exceptional script by the reputable Jones Hope Wooten trio. I couldn’t believe how many comical lines there were constantly throughout the relatable content, which will be relevant in particular to anyone who has lived about half their life or more. You will love it!
The story of five friends who were part of a swim club in their young years, they meet at their favourite beachside cottage every year to catch up in North Carolina’s Outer Banks. Happy to reminisce and enjoy each other’s company, there is opportunity for a few secrets to be revealed and tongue lashings too! All is good though because these friends are the type of friends everyone needs in their life. You will feel like you know them all personally by the end of the show.
The Sweet Delilah Swim Club is the perfect play to see for a girls night out, but there were plenty of hubbys heard laughing away behind us and enjoying it just as much. Perhaps they might have especially liked the shapely and witty Lexie (played by Jacinta Howden) who is marvellous with her ‘must have a man’ antics, but we women liked her too. As self-centered a character that she is, she will also reveal a side of herself that only a true friend would when having been through a lot together.
Vernadette’s feature scene (played by Hannah Bell) was a highlight and got a well-deserved applause half way through the show by the entire audience. There were heaps of other moments too of bantering fun and furious dialogue between these special friends. Lawyer, Dinah (played by Bel Shields) can find any excuse for a drink, Sheree (played by Laell Raiteri) the ‘health nut’ has some harsh, but tender advice and you can’t not love the delightful Jeri Neal (played by Mel Bouette in her first show with 1812) going from Nun to Mum.
Certainly it is extra challenging to play these infectious characters with drawling Southern accents, but that helped immerse us all somewhere far from our current cold Melbourne nights. Talk of skinny dipping in the ocean or having a tornado at your doorstep complete with the sound effects is overall extremely entertaining!
The set is well constructed and takes up the whole stage, so hats off to those who were responsible for that, it would have taken a long time but their efforts made us feel like we were looking straight into the window of the cottage and I almost wanted to look behind me when these talented actresses looked out and described what they were seeing.
Many many thanks to Amy Calvert, Director, for a wonderful evening reflecting upon the precious gift of life long friendship. I often found myself just smiling without knowing it. I was so pleased to share in seeing this show with my friend I’ve known for a long time. We laughed and we cried, but we mostly laughed and laughed, and laughed!
Amazing value at under $30 a ticket. No problems parking the night we went (Thursday). The theatre has snacks and drinks available both before the show, after and at interval. A program was provided free of charge at the door with a warm welcome.
