From the novel by Helen Garner. Directed and Adapted by Eamon Flack
Belvoir’s two-hander adaptation offers two shining leads that are worthy of a character study
Reviewed by Juliana Payne
Belvoir Theatre, Surry Hills
Until 13 July 2025
Tickets: https://belvoir.com.au/productions/the-spare-room/
Type: Contemporary Australian drama
If you like: Plays by David Williamson, Louis Nowra, Andrew Bovell
I cannot think of any actor better than Judy Davis to play the character ‘Helen’ in this theatrical adaptation of Helen Garner’s book The Spare Room. Elizabeth Alexander, too is the perfect foil for Garner’s character, Nicola, in this production. Helen, with her nervous energy, wit and emotionality, is offset by Nicola’s infuriating calmness and beaming smile, a feature that is often invoked by others, by turns frustrated, despairing and at their wits’ end. This is a fine two-hander which has a strong ensemble cast dropping in from time to time, but all our focus is on the two main protagonists.
Garner’s plot may seem off-putting to some people: an old friend (Nicola) comes to stay (with Helen) for a few weeks, with all the baggage of a cancer diagnosis. No matter how generously and openly Helen welcomes her, unfortunately Nicola’s faith in what is plainly a quack alternative treatment drives Helen to the limits of her patience and equanimity.
But fear not at this plot, Eamon Flack’s adaptation (Sydney Theatre Award winner for August: Osage County) of the book has retained all of Garner’s dry wit, gallows humour and slapstick comedy, and Davis gives a wonderful full throated and unrestrained performance. She is a consummate professional and any budding actors would do well to beg, borrow or steal a ticket to see her live in action. Alexander’s rendition of her character is quieter, subtler and brings genuine pathos to the role of self-deluding Nicola, even as we all clench our fists along with Helen.
The direction sets a cracking pace and clever set design by Mel Page, which provides a seamless flow between scenes as various props in the naturalistic stage setting transform themselves in the transition. The characters’ mundane tasks of making the bed, chopping vegetables orpouring glasses of water are the quotidian physical actions that mask the deep emotions playing out on stage, as the characters grapple with the meaning of life in the face of death.
We often focus on tangible things like making dinner or cleaning up when we are unable to articulate what the real issues are, and Garner is a master at digging into very complex human traits to lay our hearts, and her own, bare. The ‘Helen’ character cannot grasp what she sees as the folly of Nicola’s denial of reality in her search for ‘alternative’ cures. The movement of the play itself cycles through the Kubler-Ross stages of dying, with concomitant emotional peaks, troughs and crises.
…budding actors would do well to beg, borrow or steal a ticket to see Davis live in action
There’s a small lag in focus in the final quarter of the play, which then seems to rush suddenly to a narrated conclusion, which is the only structural challenge.
The Spare Room tackles the worse side of the ‘death and taxes’ inevitability, with humour, humanity and compassion. With a faithful theatrical adaptation and highly skilled professionals in the lead roles, this is absolutely worth a night out.
Theatre Thought: In what ways does theatre have the power to heal and process real world illness? Can it offer answers, or just provide further questions?
CREATIVES
Helen Garner Original Author
Eamon Flack Adapter & Director
Mel Page – Set and Costume Designer
Paul Jackson – Lighting Designer
Phoebe Pilcher – Associate Lighting Designer
Steve Francis – Composer and Sound Designer
Mehhma Malhi – Assistant Director
Nigel Poulton – Fight Director
Adam Mada – Magic and Illusions Design (Magic Inc)
Luke McGettigan – Stage Manager
Grace Sackman – Assistant Stage Manager
Ákos Armont – Consulting Producer
Antony Waddington – Consulting Producer
CAST
Elizabeth Alexander – Nicola
Judy Davis – Helen
Emma Diaz – Iris & others
Alan Dukes – Leo & others
Hannah Waterman – Dr Caplan & others
Anthea Cottee – Musician
