The world premiere of Roger Hall’s new comedy concludes a year of stimulating and varied programming at the Fortune. Lighter in tone than many of Hall’s other plays, A Short Cut to Happiness focuses on retired people whose concerns include the lure of discounts, the possibilities of meeting new people on Facebook, and the difficulties of opening jars.

It’s also a love story. Russian immigrant Natasha can’t work in New Zealand as a teacher because her English is limited, so she tries to improve her income, and language skills, by running dance classes. Ned, one of her pupils, seems to have answers to at least some of her problems, but his innate decency and Natasha’s fierce determination turn the path to happiness into an obstacle course. [More] 

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The appreciative and star studded audience is greeted by the sight of every community hall in New Zealand. It comes complete with honours boards, a zip, fire extinguishers and authentic touches of patchy paintwork around the plugs.

Don’t let the premise of Russian folk dancing put you off. This is a story of loveable losers bonding over desperation and common interests.  In turn it becomes a nice plug for the re-establishment and value of community education. 

Director Lara McGregor aims to give infectious happiness with this production over the festive season. Judging by the belly laughing, awwwing and clap-along audience reaction, her goal was entirely successful.

The cast bringing the first production of this play to life is superb. Passionate Natasha, played by Elena Stejko, scolds us for our lateness and lack of respect for tradition. The up-front and expressive Natasha gives us the incisive outsider perspective as a Russian immigrant opening the way for the inevitable literal language misunderstandings.  Her seemingly favourite quote, “This is very strange country,” is aptly reflected in its odd-bod characters.

Peter Hayden, fresh out of The Truth Game, is charming and affable as nice guy Ned.  Lynn Waldegrave plays a fantastically dotty Coral. Coral’s facial expressions are hilarious, particularly when the stage is revolving, and in fact manage to outshine her brazen flower studded costumes and desperate attempt at seduction through cleavage spillage.

Sylvia Rands and Catherine Downes play best friends Laura and Janet. They give a thoroughly accurate representation of their character’s demographic and reveal so much with just a sidelong glance.

Rounding out the folk dancing regulars we have Mary Sutherland as the dominating Bev, whose face during the Brown Jug Polka is just delightful. And not forgetting my favourite, the adorable rhythmically challenged Ray.  Simon O’Connor gives a stellar performance as Ray, whose lines must have been incredibly hard to learn. 

Just when the cast look like they are getting comfortable with each other, a rather slippery fish named Sebastian plunges into the pool. Although Patrick Davies appears only briefly in this role, his presence ripples throughout the rest of the play.

The characters bicker, cheat, love and paint a portrait of middle class issues and concerns. The dance sequences choreographed by Jessica Latton are enthusiastic and energetic and accompanied by an extremely well-caught shoe, courtesy some lovely person in the second row. 

A slightly apprehensive looking Roger Hall appeared to enjoy the actors’ performance and the audience reaction to the world premiere of his play.  The Roger Hall formula has worked again and was enthusiastically received.

It touches glibly enough on social issues not to make its target audience uncomfortable, and proffers heart-warming entertainment for the Christmas season.   

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