End of Summer Time is a play by Roger Hall about Dicke Hart (Andrew Granger), a retired farmer and obsessed rugby fan who moves to Auckland with his wife. Initially bewildered and unappreciative of the big city, he gradually comes to terms with the place and its quirks. The journey however is not always smooth and in a long but engaging monologue, he shares the many peeves that come with city living – house prices, traffic jams, and the pace of life.
It was the wife’s decision to move, he tells us with resignation, to be closer to their sons and grandkids. They buy an upmarket apartment in Takapuna, and Dickie describes the many people he meets.
Despite appearing to be an old curmudgeon he’s surprisingly personable, funny, and clever. The minutiae of his life and the various adventures he embarks on seem, on the surface, not that different to the day to day things we all undertake. Yet with a flair for story telling and a charming manner these simple little things become fascinating and deeply amusing. From navigating the city, interacting with his wife and neighbours, and meeting strangers, the various anecdotes have a resonance that is very relatable.
Things are not all rosy however. The second act takes a darker tone as Dickie describes the impact of covid and the devastating effect it had in his own life. Yet even now, as sad as this part of the play is, there is still insight and humour. Dickie’s story ends as he passes through grief and into acceptance, and in doing so, we are taken on a fascinating journey through this man’s psyche.
As with all Roger Hall’s plays, this one is sharp, witty, and full of social commentary. The barbs are pointed for sure but not nasty. We are served up a slice of New Zealand society that might be set in its ways and have a certain amount of privilege, but many aspects of Dickie’s life, his reactions to lock downs, change and ultimately grief are universal things we can all appreciate and understand.
Granger is one of those actors who inhabits any role with ease and is capable of delivering characters who are both strong and vulnerable and who have all the contradictions of real human beings. This ultimately is Dickie, on the surface outspoken, critical, yet at heart a decent person who actually cares for those around him and craves real human connection. Granger pulls off this complexity brilliantly and manages to make it seem as though we are old mates. His Dickie is observant, funny, and totally engaging.
From a design perspective this production is beautiful. It looks like an upmarket and very stylish apartment wth kitchen and lounge and a very plush cream recliner chair which Dickie uses as a bed eventually.
End of Summer Time is a satisfying journey through the life of a middle aged, middle class man who is coming to terms with a new environment and navigating the world on his own. It is wonderfully performed, well written, and beautifully set.
END OF SUMMER TIME
17 Jun – 5 Jul 2025
ASB Waterfront Theatre – Auckland
