Debra Oswald’s new play ‘The Peach Season’ is crafted out of the clay of one of the most primal of human emotions, the wish for parents to protect their children from the harshness of the world, and to provide them with a clear, safe passage to their own adult lives.

Celia’s life has been a battle. She has raised her daughter Zoe by herself after her husband was tragically killed, an innocent bystander of a bungled arm robbery. After this tragedy Celia left the hustle and bustle of Sydney and raised Zoe on an isolated peach farm which she took over.

The play starts with Zoe now 16 years old and turning into a beautiful young woman. Celia starts to feel anxious when Zoe has her first romance with Kieran, who has started working on the farm. Alarm bells sound for Celia when she finds out, on the grapevine, that Keiran has a criminal record and that there is an outstanding arrest warrant out on him.

David Berthold’s production for the Stables theatre served Oswald’s mother/daughter drama well. Berthold deftly guides the play from Celia’s slight unease at the beginning, building up to fever pitch when her worst fears seem to be being realised, and then on to the denouement.

Berthold wins strong performances from the cast. Anne Looby nails her leading role as Celia. Maeve Dermody as Zoe captures her character’s need to break out of her shell. Scott Timmins plays Kieran who is trying to overcome a troubled past. Alice Parkinson was just wonderful as Kieran’s ocker, older sister, Sheena. Rounding out the cast were two ever reliable performers,a very warm Maggie Blinco as Celia’s neighbour, Dorothy, and John Adam as her solicitor son, Joe.

Alice Babidge designed the compact set, and Stephen Hawker came up with the effective lighting design.