Above : Chad Traupmann and Lib Campbell in CASEY AND DIANA at the Loading Dock Theatre
Toronto based playwright Nick Green’s play CASEY AND DIANA is a work of a dramatists’ imagination, inspired by a real life event, Princess Princess Diana’s actual visit to Casey House on 25 October 1991, some 35 years ago.
The time is October 1991. We are inside Toronto’s Casey House hospice for AIDS sufferers. Casey House is, understandably, a bleak, morbid place however a ray of sunshine comes in through its windows. The patients have been advised that Princess Diana will be visiting the hospital in the next week. At last, some thing to look forward to.
The play premiered at the Stratford Festival in 2023, has had sold out seasons In Canada and America, and has won a number of awards including the best New Canadian play and Toronto Theatre Critic s’ Award in 2024. With MI TODO’s production, it is now having its Australian premiere. This is a powerful work, and my feeling is that this play will, as they say in the industry, ‘have legs’.
The play is well served by being performed at the intimate Loading Dock Theatre with the play’s very emotionally nature shared inside a communal, warm way.
A cast of six kept the audience firmly engaged.
Chad Traupmann gives a credible, resonant performance in the lead role, Thomas. A gay man with a good, ironic sense of humour, he is a ‘war weary’ veteran of the AIDS ward. The announcement of Princess Diana’s imminent visit gives him the incentive to hold on just that little bit longer, In his mind he keep replaying scenes from Charles and Diana’s wedding, televised to an equally mesmerised global audience. His mind is abuzz thinking, how he is supposed to behave, what is he going to say/ask her?
Lib Campbell was just right as the good natured, strong willed People’s Princess. Campbell looked the part of Diana within a nifty wig, and she had her mannerisms down pat including the way she used to tilt her head when listening to people. Through the play the Princess drifts in and out of the action in a shadow like effect.
Isabel Burton gives a fine performance as the efficient but tough nurse Vera. A stand-out scene is when she has to confront the volunteer Marjorie who has problems dealing with boundaries.
As the empathetic volunteer Marjorie, Linda Nicholls-Gidley gives a fine performance. Nicholls- Gidley has proved herself to be a warm, reliable performer.
Lucy Miller played Thomas’ sister Pauline. The brother and sister relationship is one of the main pivot points in the play. Their relationship is severely tested when Pauline visits him, but refuses to touch him. This was the time at the height of the AIDS paranoia, when there was the fear that by just touching someone, one could catch the virus. Miller gave a good performance as the feisty Pauline who fights to win her brother’s love back.
Gabriel Alvarado gave a resonant performance as the sorrow laden Andre who had resisted to the last, having to go to hospital. Marco is Thomas’ new ‘roommate’. Very much a loner, and hiding his gayness, Marco had cut off from his family. Being the sweetheart that she is, Marjorie extends a lot of support to him.
Nancy Denis’ direction is good, and her creative team create a very effective world for the actors to work in and within; Maine Inae’s hospital ward setting, Laura Mazikana’s costumes, Cameron Smith’s soundscape, and Frankie Clarke’s excellent lighting design.
What exactly do we have, if we don’t have good relationships with people? This theme comes in to sharp focus in Green’s play, as Thomas and Marco find their health, treacherously, failing them.
A co-production by Mi Todo and The Loading Dock, Nick Green’s CASEY AND DIANA is playing the Loading Dock Theatre, QTopia until Saturday 8th August 2026.
Bookings : https: //tickets.qtopiasydney.com.au/Events/Casey-and-Diana/
Tickets from $29.
Production photography by Teniola Komolafe
Hi, Gabriel Alvarado plays Andre not Marco. Gabriel was Marco in Critical Incident- maybe you mixed those up.
Thank you. i have made the correction. Best wishes, David