craig-parker.net > Articles > Glide Time
New Zealand’s most iconic comedy returns to the stage to celebrate
its 30th anniversary.
May 23, 2006, source: viewauckland.co.nz
Written by Roger Hall in 1976, Glide Time is a satirical look at the lives
of a group of people who work in a government office.
It was never clear what department Hall’s disgruntled group of public
servants worked for, but it was clear no-one liked their job, or each other.
So popular was the play it gave rise to its own television series, eighties
hit sitcom Gliding On, which was an early kiwi version of Ricky Gervais’ hit
UK comedy The Office. Think overflowing in-trays, ringing phones, inane office
babble and endless cups of tea …
What Hall proved with Glide Time was not just the banality and hilarity of
everyday office life, but also that New Zealanders have the ability to laugh
at themselves.
And laugh you will when you’re reminded of the tight brown flares, the
plaid skirts and fitted woolen sweaters worn in the hey-day of drool eighties
office life.
Perhaps the highlight of this show though is the casting. Sharing the shame
and laughter of the eighties bureaucratic mood are some of the country’s
most revered actors including Simon Prast (of Gloss-fame), Theresa Healey (Shortland
Street, Dancing With The Stars), Colin Moy (In My Father’s Den), Stuart
Devenie (End of the Golden Weather), Craig Parker (Lord of the Rings, Shortland
Street), David Van Horn (Sione’s Wedding), and Greg Johnson (Middle Aged
Spread).
Directed by Oliver Driver, the Silo’s production of Glide Time will be
performed at Auckland’s Maidment Theatre from Wednesday, 14 June to Saturday,
1 July 2006.