Sunset Strip - New Theatre (NSW)

Written by Suzie Miller. Directed by Annette van Roden.

Why do some people escape the small town of their upbringing and others stay put and build a life where they grew up?

Reviewed by Chanele Mao

New Theatre, Newtown

Season 9 July – 3 August 2024

Tickets: https://newtheatre.org.au/sunset-strip/

 Suzie Miller’s Sunset Strip centres on two sisters who are like chalk and cheese. Caroline (Erica Nelson) - a high-flying lawyer from the big smoke - has come home to the sleepy town of Sunset Strip. Whilst Phoebe (Molly Haddon), her younger sister – carefree, an ex-junkie and single mum of two - has big news to share. When the big news breaks that Phoebe is going to be married to a so-called “low rent” guy, Teddy (Shane Davidson), Caroline is horrified. Could Phoebe be making a huge mistake? Does Teddy harbour a devastating secret?

Sunset Strip, New Theatre (2024). Photos by Chris Lundie

Life is messy. Things don’t always go smoothly. Family dramas and turmoil is also a constant. Nelson plays Caroline with a beautiful vulnerability and touching empathy of a woman who has survived cancer, largely on her own, endured failed relationships and is trying to build a new life. Haddon’s Phoebe is full of light, vigour, fun and a touch of naivete. Does pretending to be her Mum as her Dad (Vincent Melton) sinks into the depths of dementia keep him sane and safe? Or is this just a way to avoid dealing with the problem and ignoring the elephant in the room?

The tempestuous relationship between Phoebe and Teddy was also very believable. They are madly in love, but you could not help but ponder whether the relationship was going to last. Questions were raised whether they really were meant for each other as Phoebe hopes and believes to be the case. The direction lead us to speculate whether instead this was band-aid solution as Phoebe struggles with her own demons and a past that still haunts her.

a reminder to stay optimistic when life gives you lemons and to embrace the challenges it serves

The set of Sunset Strip is effectively broken down into two parts. On the right is the living room of the family home at Sunset Strip, a family reunion and ghosts of the past haunt the living in this space. On the left is the beaten-up fishing boat, where Dad goes on his fishing trips. As the long scorching, summer days stretch on, inevitably sisterly love and betrayal reach boiling point. 

The Japanese have a special technique for making things broken, whole again with the use of gold – it’s called kintsugi or in other words, to join with gold. It’s a reminder to stay optimistic when life gives you lemons and to embrace the challenges it serves. At the heart of Sunset Strip is a story about forgiveness, hope, love and what you would sacrifice for your family. 

This play pays homage to the Hollywood strip where broken dreams breathe new life like a bird with a damaged wing still hobbling, still surviving.  Will Phoebe and Teddy get hitched? Is this a happily ever after? Go see Sunset Strip to find out!

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CREATIVE TEAM

Director & Set Designer Annette van Roden

Lighting Designer Casey Moon-Watton

Sound Designer Jay Murrin

Assistant Director Martin Kelly

Stage Manager Marc Monnet-Demarbre

LX/SX Operators Jay Murrin, Violet Powter

CAST

Shane Davidson

Molly Haddon

Vincent Melton

Erica Nelson