Playing for Advantage: Sharp & Witty

Relationships are like tennis – if you just figure out each other’s game, then both of you will start playing better. This is the premise of Playing for Advantage, a play written by Noah Casey and directed by Matt Clarke, about the highs and lows of relationships, and how we may stop faulting and start rallying successfully if we’d just play fair.

Beth, played by Jen Shirley, is a confident, happy, fun, twenty-something year-old woman who works as a technical writer and enjoys a hit of tennis on the side. Tom, a bank marketer played by Noah Casey, is also a keen tennis player, and naturally the two hit it off when they first meet at a party, then later on the tennis courts. Throughout the show, the audience is guided through what is expected at each stage of the relationship (or ‘match’) from both male and female perspectives, as the two characters directly address the audience in between the different stages (or ‘games’), earning points for their positive contributions along the way ( either 15, 30, 40 or ADV).

For anyone who has ever been involved in an intimate relationship in any form, the many stages – whether new and exciting, or longer-term and somewhat trying – are executed with an emotional real-ness that will surely get you thinking about your own experiences.  From ‘First Service’ all the way through to ‘Break Point’, these two players share their inner thoughts, tips and beliefs about themselves and each other in the relationship. Most are hilarious, but some are so powerfully true and emotive that you may find yourself stifling a tear or two at the end (just like I did!).

The show is tightly choreographed with seamless set and prop transitions, thanks to ‘ball-girl’ Tamar Av-Shalom, and sharp, witty lines delivered with clever timing.

Playing for Advantage is on at Studio 16 during the Fringe so get along to check out what stage of the match you’re at. Are you playing for advantage?