Eden
The Gallery at The Courtyard Of Curiosities
Tue 17 Mar, 2026
 

I guess deep down we’re all looking for our little bit of paradise. Some of the characters  in Eden thought they more or less had it in their idyllic rural community – nature, beauty, friends, family. We in Australia are conditioned to accepting this romantic, idealised version of country life. Much of it is true, but a quick scan through Don Watson’s The Bush reveals it’s terrifying side - the isolation, loneliness, being hostage to the elements. And having to live alongside some seriously deficient humans who have no vision past the end of the main street, or the boundary of their farm.

Dan and Kit and significant adults in their lives are grappling with this dichotomy: stay or go? Accept the comfort of what you know or take the risk and leave; sacrifice comfortable routine for adventure? Leave friends and family for relative anonymity? It’s a tough choice and we’ve all been there.

Dan and Kit found each other just at the right time. At least they can plumb the depths of these questions and their implications together. And they do it so well. They launch themselves into the exploration of this new found awareness and potential freedoms with enthusiasm and a degree of naivete.

At the same time the world around them is changing and becoming threatening. They sense that life is no longer black and white, and that there are people in their lives they might be better off without.

Eden is beautifully written. Kate Gaul crafts a story written in a language that is almost poetic; articulate and perceptive, but still ‘normal’ enough for it to sit comfortably in the mouths of these two young women. The pacing is perfect: exuberant and exciting, often joyful but with occasional brooding moments when doubt slows them down.

Karinne Kanaan and Lara Lightfoot play their parts to perfection, bouncing off each other like rubber balls and then wanting to be close again. They clearly have fun with their roles – their impersonations of other people in the town, particularly the male characters, are really well done. And quite funny, but we don’t get to dwell in the humour because they have whisked you off to some other place, some other conversation – maybe sitting outside over a pizza in the town somewhere.

Is staying put a case of paradise lost?  Is paradise lost a precondition of paradise gained? “If I stay here I’ll disappear.”