Every Kiwi has at some point felt the desire to take off. It is an especially appealing thought on a cold Dunedin night. To run away, to go on an adventure, to get out, to finally turn into reality that thing that has only been a daydream. 

Whatever your thing is – whether it’s beaches, cathedrals, canals, that ephemeral holiday romance – this play covers them all. Taking Off by Roger Hall is the travel diary of four New Zealand women who just needed to get out.

Jean, played by Elsa May, is a cathedral fanatic ever on the hunt for the perfect tea towel. Nothing gets her more fired up than the thought of the family tree. She has taken to travel after being unceremoniously being let go after decades of loyal work. Jean heads for London and explores Scotland and Ireland as well.

It was quite amusing to have an actor who enjoys performing in the Edinburgh Fringe Festival playing a character perplexed by the whole business. May gives an entertaining performance and turns what could be quite a boring character into a delight with her hilarious facial expressions and bumbling Irish dancing. 

Ruth, played by Ellie Swann, is a wannabe novelist who has come to London to escape her husband’s philandering ways. Her ‘How to write a novel’ guide provides the framework for the play. Ruth bounces around London, heads to France and hits the States. Swann gives an animated performance of a hearty character.

Noeline, played by Toni White, is a live-in carer finally off on the big OE. She endures the dreariness and pitfalls of the working holiday but starts to enjoy her time after making personal connections with her patients. The patient becomes the centre of the live-in carer’s life and it would have been interesting if the script had explored the impact on Noeline of having patient after patient die.

Noeline would benefit from White relaxing into her role more and thus enhancing the comedy of some of her lines through her phrasing. However she does gain audience sympathy and becomes convincingly misty eyed when the worst happens.

Frankie, played by Amy Abbot, has just won Lotto and decides to celebrate by dumping the husband and partying on the other side of the world. Of course, she hasn’t told him that yet. Frankie’s journey through Europe is as varied as her emotions.

Abbot is the only actor who doesn’t take a moment to search for lines in this very wordy play.  She is thoroughly enjoyable to watch.

Director Julie Edwards has got great performances out of her actors in this monologue style play. It is quite static but each character has their interesting quirks and deserves a more fleshed out ending. Perhaps their adventures are tied off so quickly because the ‘How to write a novel’ guide has stopped dispensing advice.  

This is a humorous play perfectly made for all those who cannot escape Dunedin themselves.

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