Presented by Unified Productions
@ Wright Hall, Pembroke School
WEDNESDAY 29 February (until March 4)

As the great philosopher Mick Jones once sang; “Darling, you gotta let me know, should I stay or should I go?”

It’s a question that haunts all young Adelaideans who hate their job, find themselves eternally single and just a tad bored with life.

Cue Unified Production’s debut Adelaide Fringe show, All My Friends Are Leaving Adelaide.

Based on the play, and subsequent 2007 Aussie movie, All My Friends Are Leaving Brisbane, this local adaptation tackles the inevitable decision that every young, bored and frustrated Adelaidean must face; do the overseas thing or stay put?

The story centres on Anthea (Priscilla Bartletta) and Michael (Paul Stalenhoef) who are “good friends” – you know, in that please- hurry-up-and-get- together kind of way.

Problem: Anthea, influenced by her bleak love life and the actions of her ex and possible ‘love of her life’, Jake (Charlie Gibbings), is thinking of taking the plunge and moving to the sunny shores of London.

Conversely Michael is entirely happy where he is, despite his lacklustre relationship, and attempts to makes the case for staying in Radelaide to his ‘purely plutonic’ friend.

Through a series of break-ups, reunions, nights at the Havy, couch philosophy and sex on a fridge, Anthea finds herself wondering what she’ll stay behind for and what she’s willing risk to get out.

Director Scarlett Koehne rocks an energetic ensemble, including herself as Anthea’s move-endorsing flatmate Kath.

Having founded Unified Productions over the summer, Koehne says a lack of creative opportunities for young people spurred the forming of the company.

Casting a mix of the latest SA Castings’ crop and high school friends, the production serves as great reminder that, despite the allure of great international Fringe acts, we are not short of our own talent in Adelaide!

Stalenhoef grants the audience an honest, charming performance as the extremely likeable, if a little know-it-all, Michael while Bartletta brings some cute chemistry and heart as the relatable and entertaining Anthea.

A gold star also goes to Nadia Talotta who was a clear audience favourite as the frustrated girlfriend turned scary ex-girlfriend, Stephanie.

It’s no cop-out to say that each cast member has earned their stripes through a natural, light hearted and, in the case of some, last minute performance (Stalenhoef and Gibbings joining the troupe less than a month ago).

The real lure of AMFALA is the familiarity of the characters. Of course everyone knows a ‘will they, won’t they’ Michael and Anthea; everyone’s had a post-break up drink (or drinks…) with a Steph or has been dumped for a Simone. Every girl has known a Jake.

And everyone has a Tyson in their flat  just doing, well, whatever he does…

Along with great ‘only in Adelaide’ references (Koehne has excelled in contemporising the script and turning it into a South Australian play), All My Friends Are Leaving Adelaide is bright, charismatic and comfortably familiar!

Pembroke School’s Wright Hall also earns particular kudos as a great, intimate space, which perfectly captures the flat and bar hybrid stage set up, as well as congratulations on their brilliant student, 15 year old Gigi Koehne, who keeps the show running impeccably as stage manager.

So my fellow twenty-somethings, go along, let the barman pour you a glass of red and enjoy some quality, homebred talent.

After all, we definitely can’t let them leave Adelaide!

All My Friends are Leaving Adelaide presented by Unified Productions runs from Weds 29 Feb to Sun 4 March. Grab your tickets through Fringetix.