Ripcord

Ripcord

By David Lindsay-Abaire

18-28 November 2026

Directed by Ian Harding

For 4 years, irritable and sarcastic Abby Binder has kept a room to herself at the Bristol Place Senior Living Facility, through sheer force of her rude personality. Nursing disappointment at the direction her life has taken, she has no care for distraction. A sunny room on an upper floor is prime real estate at the living facility, but when bubbly, bright, and unbearably cheerful Marilyn Dunne is placed in her room, Abby resorts to her usual tricks but fails to scare her annoying new roommate away. She gets no sympathy from Scotty, the resident aide, who refuses to use any clout he may or may not have with management to remove Marilyn. Marilyn, for her part, loves the challenge of Abby’s bad attitude, and refuses to budge. Exercising her taste for competition and her love of pranks, Marilyn makes a bet: if Abby can break her endless patience and make her angry, Marilyn will move out. But if Marilyn can successfully frighten Abby, who claims never to get scared, she will claim the bed by the window. In her favour, Abby has a wide mean streak, which gives her no qualms about filling in Marilyn’s Sudoku, tearing up her grandson’s pictures, or digging up police reports about her violent ex-husband. But Marilyn has a devoted family on her side, as well as a the most dangerous thing of all, a genuine wish to see Abby happy… As this odd couple embarks upon increasingly emotionally and physically dangerous tricks in order to break each other, deep secrets are revealed, lives are jeopardized, and peach cobbler is enjoyed.

David Lindsay-Abaire’s Ripcord is an often slapstick, always surprising comedy, an enemies-to-friends story for a pair of excellently well-rounded, mature women.

Tickets NZ$35, $30

All shows 7.30 pm
20 to 30 May 2026
Elmwood Auditorium
Aikmans Road, Merivale
See map

Concession prices apply to Gold Card holders, Community Service Card & KiwiAble Leisure Card holders, Full-time students (tertiary & secondary) & Under-18s
Proof of entitlement must be presented upon admission

Group bookings of 10 or more – Concession rate applies!

Special discount for school group bookings! (Contact us for more information)

Complimentary voucher holders
please contact us for booking instructions

Please note: seating is by general admission (no seat numbers allocated)
Wheelchair access available

A Community Theatre production by special arrangement ORiGiN on behalf of Dramatists Play Service, Inc