The Whale ~ University of Adelaide Theatre Guild ~ Review

[Theatre]

University of Adelaide Theatre Guild
Little Theatre
Sun 9 Oct, 2025

When regular and meaningful communication online (in pre-social media days) became possible it wasn’t long before stories started to emerge of groups of people who for various reasons flourished in this new communication milieu. Being overweight or those who thought themselves physically unattractive were one such group.

The Whale’s main man, Charlie, is obese. Since the death of his partner Charlie has taken solace in eating huge amounts of food. As an online teacher he conducts live sessions but always makes excuses for not turning on his camera so his students never know that he is in fact something of a human whale.

His home nurse, Liz (capably played by Annette Matsouliadis), is also the sister of Charlie’s dead gay partner. She attends to his basic needs and offers him ongoing friendship.  She is fond of Charlie. A young Mormon Elder, Elder Thomas, becomes another of Charlie’s regular visitors as he tries to offer the comfort of religion. In time, he also comes to like Charlie.

Into this curious mix comes Charlie’s estranged 17 year old daughter, Ellie. Rambunctious, obnoxious, shocking and even a bit mean, Ellie wants to do a deal with her father where he writes her essays for school. She eventually softens her anger towards her father as she spends more time with him. You see, despite Charlie’s repellent obesity and the squalor of his apartment, he’s actually a very likeable character.

This is on the whole a beautifully paced production.   It was fascinating to watch each character justify spending time with Charlie.  Nurse Liz flits in and out and is a bit miffed that Elder Thomas is spending more time with him. She also has her own reasons for objecting to his religious bent. Liam James is great in the role of Elder Thomas as he tries to minister to Charlie while copping insults from Liz. He manages to maintain his dignity until the bombshell that is Ellie puts several cats among the pigeons and blows his cover.

Sam Wiseman really is wonderful as Charlie. The program notes give some indication of what he has to endure to present as the obese character for every performance and the backstage crew do an amazing job. In what must be an incredibly physically demanding task Charlie grunts, groans and moans his way through the show while rarely losing his equanimity. His eyes glow with a radiant warmth when he looks at Ellie, and despite her brat behavior he clearly loves her to bits.

When Charlie’s divorced wife appears in the final scene it completes the circle of people who love this whale of a man dying before their eyes. It’s an emotional frenetic conclusion that only resolves when Ellie finally agrees to read a precious text out loud to her father.

So much to unpack in this show – the online world, eating disorders, the role of religion – particularly in respect of the gay community, family breakdown, the importance of literature, the lack of affordable health care, the use of social media – it puts a bright spotlight on many facets of contemporary life and it doesn’t come off looking that great. Except somehow, despite all odds, society’s casualties still strive for connection with each other in their quest to find meaning and hope.

Kudos on a great set full of junk and mess – lots of delicious detail to feast on! Another very successful outing from the University of Adelaide Theatre Guild.

Written by Samuel D Hunter
Directed by Geoff Britain

4.5 stars

Michael Coghlan.

The Whale continues at various times at the Little Theatre, The Cloisters, University of Adelaide until Sun 16 Nov. Purchase tickets HERE.