Writer: Samuel Goldfinch
Director: Holly Stevens
University is meant to be a time to figure out who you are and what you want to become in this world. But this can be easier said than done. What if the religion you behold won’t allow you to grow? What if the people in your life won’t let you either?
This is the moral dilemma in which the lead character of Nicole, played by Lauren Koster, finds herself. Pimms & Piety, written by Samuel Goldfinch and directed by Holly Stevens, sets a cast of Jewish university students, and one non-Jew, in an at-times awkward and at other times raucous party where shots are thrown back, drinking games are played and truths come to light.
The scene is set in the quaint blackbox space of the Etcetera Theatre in Camden. The audience walks into the living room of a shared student apartment, occupied by Nicole studiously working away with a large “Don’t Touch” sign written on cardboard and taped to the fireplace.
Tension and intrigue are set up from the beginning, waiting for Charlie, played by writer Samuel Goldfinch, to enter the scene. Acting as the audience surrogate, Charlie allows for numerous Orthodox Jewish phrases, rituals and practices to be explained organically.
Nicole shares the apartment with Georgia, played by Georgia McKnight, and their best-friend relationship is at the heart of this piece. Georgia is over-protective of her childhood friend and is watchful of Nicole’s desire to adhere to the practice of Shomer Negiah, where a man is not allowed to touch her until marriage. The conflict flourishes when clear feelings arise between Nicole and her friend Theo, played by Francesco Pellicio, raising questions of whether she would break her beliefs, lose a friend and gain a boyfriend in the process.
Although this tale of friendship is at the heart of the play, Pimms & Piety shines when it indulges in the silly, half-drunken rowdiness of youth. Holly Stevens’ direction of the more mundane aspects of the scenes shines, as it could really trick a viewer into thinking they are right there in the middle of a pre’s. The rest of the ensemble cast shines, bringing the reality of being in your early 20s while also giving credence to the heritage they are operating within.
However, the play doesn’t always reach its full potential. Instances of clunky writing and repetition of dialogue mar the overall presentation later down the track. Certain acting choices stand at odds with the play’s casual brand of realism, confusing the tone at times. Although the presence of more bodies in the space, including Georgia’s boyfriend Jamie, played by Gregor Roach, and the comedic duo of Tess and Jess, played by Jessica Garton and Ruby Hewitt respectively, does lend itself well to the party atmosphere of the middle of the play, it is hard to believe these characters are necessary to the plot.
That being said, this play will still have you in stitches at its superb rendering of awkward university life. Questioning where religion should sit within the lives of devout young people today, Pimms & Piety is a light-hearted social drama with a curious moral dilemma that is worth your time.
Until 12 November 2023
