A comedy drama written by Werribee playwright Alaine Beek has been named a finalist in a nation-wide competition.
The Scrunch Test was one of three scripts chosen to feature in the National Playwright Competition for One Act Plays.
The finalist shows will be performed in East Malvern later this month.
Beek will star in her production as a Scottish mother, alongside West Footscray actor Ross Daniels, who plays her husband, a character who enjoys drinking.
As the pair await their son’s arrival on Christmas Day, they don’t realise the friend whom Michael (portrayed by Jeremy Withers) is bringing home will actually be his partner (Chris de Zeeuw).
Beek said she was excited to find out her work had been selected as a finalist in the contest.
Another of her plays, Point of No Return, won the competition three years ago.
She said her own family Christmases and the pressure to have the “best ever” Christmas Day had inspired her latest show.
“That really is the point of the story,” she said. “For this family, the magic of Christmas comes through for them, but not in a slapstick way.”
Daniels said he hoped people from the west would come along to East Malvern to support the show.
The National Playwright Competition finalist showdown will be held on Friday, November 24, from 7.30pm and Saturday, November 25, from 3pm and 7.30pm at the Malvern Theatre Company, 29 Burke Road, Malvern East.
Tickets cost $24. Go to trybooking.com/SJHB.
Competition winners will be announced after the final show.
