THEATRE: ONE LONG NIGHT IN THE LAND OF NOD

The curiously titled One Long Night in the Land of Nod (it’s a short play, and not particularly snooze-inducing) gets elbow deep into the gritty reality of country living and familial breakdown. Or maybe wrist deep would be more accurate. City-slicker brother Kane returns to the homestead after his father falls ill. What he finds is his simmering, slightly insane brother Aaron (a Biblical reference ghosting these characters.) Like Abel, Aaron’s lost his way, dreams of walking out into the paddocks and shooting his head off. Animals speak to him. Kane, meanwhile, has lost all his wordly possessions; wife, fortune, reputation. In one (not-so-long) night, they bicker and guzzle beer, exploring the expectations lumped upon sons and young men in the world – to succeed, to make their parents proud, to keep the family business going, to score a lady, “with great tits.” It all ticks along neatly, until its explosive ending. But you’re left feeling that gloves were somehow worn when handling the emotional complexities – in a situation that called for getting hands dirty.

Until Oct 3, TRS Theatre at The Old Fitz Hotel, 129 Dowling St, Woolloomooloo, $21-35 (beer, laksa & show), 1300 GETTIX or moshtix.com.au