As part of the City of Ballarat’s Pride Month, Ballarat National Theatre’s latest offering is the Tony nominated ‘Next Fall’. This is a powerful and thought-provoking play that explores themes of love, faith, commitment, acceptance and the complexities of relationships.

It is the story of Adam and Luke a devoted couple who even five years into their relationship still are wrestling with their opposing beliefs; Adam is an atheist, while Luke is a devout Christian who has not told his very conservative family about their relationship. Everything comes to a head when Luke is in a life-threatening car crash.

The play does not follow a traditional chronological narrative, rather it shifts between past and present. The play opens, in the present, in the waiting area of a New York City hospital’s ICU where Adam, a couple of their friends and Luke’s divorced parents are gathered, anxiously waiting for news of Luke who is in a coma after surgery for head trauma suffered in the accident. In the flashback scenes, we learn how their relationship came into being and we are acquainted with the difficulties they have experienced.

Director, Matthew Henderson, has shown a strong vision for the production. His set design choices – clever incorporation of the USC doors that are actually part of the building, a mixture of excellent projections and minimal universal furniture, meant that the action flows well through the various locations and time periods. I loved the autumn leaves across the front of the stage in the footlights and the title projection slide which echoed the falling leaves. Using the cast to achieve scene changes was good and they managed them well. My only minor quibble was, although the props by Shell Pryor, Brigitte Halliwell and Lexi Bahlaw were well done and appropriate, there perhaps was a excess of them which made some changes a wee bit clunky. David Horne’s projection design was perfectly realised and matched seamlessly into the stage space.

Mr Henderson has guided his actors sensitively to create realistic, well-rounded and believable characters who are imperfect but relatable. He allows the emotions to shine without becoming overly mawkish. The actors all deliver well thought out performances that balance the drama and humour of the play.

Samuel John Darge and Kai Ridler are outstanding as Adam and Luke. Their chemistry is tangible, and they present a very credible romantic relationship, we really feel that these two characters were destined for each other, even with their differences.

Jessica Ryan as Arlene, Luke’s mother, is a standout. She showcases her comedic talent in her opening scene but her heart wrenching scene later in the play moved many in the audience, including this reviewer, to tears. Superb!

Simon Carroll gave a well nuanced performance as Butch, Luke’s father, who deliberately ignores the fact that his son is gay. The self-control he presents through most of the play contrasts well with his final outburst, making for a powerful moment.

Natalya Munro is a delight as Holly. She confidently conveys the strength of her friendship with Adam and Luke with subtlety and compassion and acts as intermediary in the hospital scenes with conviction.

Completing the cast is the character of Brandon, a friend of Luke’s from school. Caleb Tong gives an appropriately understated performance and made the most of his character’s scene with Adam when they are discussing religious convictions.

I understand that the auditorium of the Ballaarat Mechanics Institute is a large space and perhaps the use of body mics was deemed necessary, but it does detract just a little from the shade and tone in dialogue. That said, the cast still conveyed the humanity of the characters, with their strengths and weaknesses, with sincerity.

This play does not offer solutions to all the issues it raises but does give the audience much to go away thinking about which is what I love theatre to do. Thank you BNT for an excellent night of theatre.