Writer and director Jamie McCaskill has a knack for capturing the way real people speak, whether it’s the inhabitants of a woman’s refuge (Not in Our Neighbourhood) or a men’s prison (Manawa). In The Biggest, McCaskill turns his ears to the older Kiwi male. You know the one, the classic bloke, often reduced to a simple stereotype.

Set in small town New Zealand, this is a rural love letter with the intention of capturing these men as they are, rather than how they should be. They talk about women, race and sex without much regard for political correctness, censoring themselves for no one. In the wrong hands, these men would be insufferable, but team behind The Biggest capture the earnestness and honesty necessary to bring these men to life, filling them with the familiarity of a family member. [More] 

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Award-winning writer director Jamie McCaskill brings small town New Zealand to life in his latest play, drama-comedy, The Biggest.

The Biggest centres around four good old mates, Stu (Tim Gordon), Mick (Apirana Taylor), Poppa (Jim Moriarty) and Pat (Peter Hambleton). Stu’s had an accident that not only leaves him unable to walk anymore, but he’s lost his beloved fishing boat in the process.  

Given that their old mate’s down on his luck, Mick, Poppa and Pat band together to get Stu back on his feet. They’re going to win the town’s fishing contest and win Stu first prize – a new boat. This will have the added bonus of knocking young upstart Jan (Nick Dunbar) from his perch as the town’s top fisherman three years running.

There’s plenty of laughs along the way. In the hands of this seasoned cast, McCaskill’s solid script zings. All the characters have depth and each one has their own journey to go through.

Nick Dunbar is perfectly annoying as Jan; some of the play’s funniest moments come out of him facing down Apirana Taylor’s wonderfully deadpan Mick. Peter Hambleton’s Pat is sweet and bumbling, a man who’s has nothing to show for his life and claims he’s ok with that. Jim Moriarty brings a lightness to a character who’s going through challenges. And Tim Gordon’s Stu is a likeable curmudgeon. The final character in the piece is feisty Cassie (Kali Kopae), Poppa’s no nonsense daughter. 

Wellington Theatre Awards-nominated Gil Eva Craig’s sound design hits the mark and enriches the performances on Toni De Goldi’s simple, but elegant, set.

McCaskill tackles themes of cultural identity and challenges the Pakeha/Maori divide, even among mates. The Biggest is a slice of small town New Zealand that, as Cassie succinctly puts it, “If I was a stranger here I’d be embarrassed to hear the way you talk.” But it’s done with plenty of gentle humour and love.

At its heart, The Biggest is a tale about friendship, old mates and the way people rally together when times get tough. A feel-good new work with solid performances. 

Review of Wellington premiere

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