Pear Shaped

“Gary’s not a dork, he’s a bloody nice guy!”

Pear Shaped is a debut New Zealand play, set on Auckland’s North Shore, written and directed by Andy Saker, founder of North Shore’s indie Devonport Theatre Company (DTC).

Pear Shaped ‘s origins began 10 years ago, with characters inspired by Saker’s North Shore friends, neighbours and local identities. It’s a bittersweet comedy about naïve, nice guy Gary Clam, an average bloke who enjoys simple pleasures – gardening, fishing, having mates over for barbeques at his Takapuna beach house where he entertains wearing one of a vast collection of novelty barbeque aprons. In some ways a typical if somewhat bland North Shore existence.

Those who don’t know Gary might think he’s a bit of a dork but his mates Gav and Eddie don’t think so and neither does his fiercely protective Aunty Lynette.

Gary’s parents died in a comical freak hang-gliding accident and he’s been a bit depressed. Inheriting their estate and beachside home certainly made life easier for him – so much so that he’s unconcernedly unemployed. A fact that has been irritating his long-term, live-in girlfriend Julie. She feels they have grown apart. Sitting around at weekend barbeques listening to Gary and his mates debate the merits of squid bait versus pilchards ain’t doing it for her. Her career has been going great guns. When her flashy boss, ex-pat Chris comes over from the Sydney office with some news, things begin to go very Pear Shaped for poor old Gary.

The play consists of a 9 member ensemble cast featuring new and emerging talent ranging from 20-40-something in age. Sound design is by eminent musician and producer Jed Town of Fetus Productions fame whose eerily beautiful 1983 track “What’s Going On?” features in this play.

Pear Shaped by Andy Saker

The PumpHouse Theatre, Takapuna, Auckland

May 19-30

ENDS