Review: NICOLA CHEESEMAN IS BACK at Herald Theatre

Shortlisted for the Adam NZ Play Award 2023, Nicola Cheeseman is Back is one woman ride through the suburban to-do list of a 50-year-old as she navigates her husband moving out leaving his mother for her to care for as well as their 12 year-old daughter. If that isn’t enough her aging father moves in taking a fancy to the neighbour., All this is going on as she wonders exactly when she shelved her dreams of being a punk-rock goddess.

Kudos to playwright Kathryn Burnett. She has crafted a script that hits all the feels—grief, hilarity, reflection, and empowerment. It's a discovery of strength and depth, the fun and the fraught, and the deliciousness of not giving a hoot about what others think, all while living a uniquely strong life in full, vibrant color. 

Nicola ponders why she’s in charge of everyone else’s happiness when she has not given attention to her own?

Nicola, played by Jodie Rimmer, navigates between the reality and grief of the failings of her body and her life journey through the sort best kind of humour that takes one by surprise despite it occurring time and time again throughout the play.

Jodie Rimmer is simply fabulous in this role. She pays homage to women as they come into their age of discovery, fully embracing who they are.

For women approaching a certain age, for those who are already there, and for those who have made it through, she is their best friend, holding up a mirror to their lives. She is a champion of claiming her power and owning life on her terms.

Nicola Cheeseman is Back is a triumph of theatrical storytelling, delivering a heartfelt exploration of life's complexities through the lens of a remarkable character, played by a remarkable actress and served on a smorgasbord of laugh after laugh.

Kathryn Burnett's insightful script, coupled with Jodie Rimmer’s extraordinary performance, makes this show a must-see for anyone seeking poignant reflections on resilience, identity, and the pursuit of happiness.

For those who aren't there yet and for the menfolk, this play offers a perfect opportunity to discover what’s to come and to fully honor the true depth, power, grit, and love of self and others that a woman is capable of.

photo credit: Megan Goldsman