Speaking in Tongues by Andrew Bovell

The opening night of Speaking in Tongues was amazing, Sam Strong the Director looked slightly nervous pre-show and I am not surprised as the audience had some of Australia's finest actors including Jacki Weaver.
It is the second time this show has graced the stage at the Stables Theatre, the first time was in 1996.  However, five year's on and it could have been written yesterday. It is one of those plays which is timeless.  Speaking in Tongues explores the relationship of two couples who end up having an affair with each other. Relationships and marriages are tested and questioned. I believe it is a play that would appeal more to married or divorced couples who will relate to the thought of going out to see if you still 'have it' and then the thought if you did meet somebody could you have a one night stand? and as the play says would one night lead to another? The play is very well written particularly the scenes where the dialogue interweaves between the two couples even though they are in two different places. Parts Two and Three are a development of Part One. You hear about the characters but they are not fully explained and the mystery of why the neighbour was covered in blood is revealed.
The cast Lucy Bell, Andy Rodoreda, Caroline Craig and Chris Stollery are all well accomplished actors and give their characters credible emotions - slightly nervous first meeting and awkwardness followed by guilt, drama and revelations.