Steven Moffat’s “The Unfriend” opens its Australian premiere in Sydney: critics divided over the dark comedy

Steven Moffat, the name behind the television series “Doctor Who” and “Sherlock”, has brought to Sydney the Australian premiere of his debut theatre comedy, “The Unfriend”, which will play at the Sydney Theatre Company‘s Roslyn Packer Theatre until October 31, directed by Simon Phillips.

At the centre of the dark comedy is the English couple Peter and Debbie, who on a cruise befriend the widowed American Elsa Jean Krakowski. When she invites herself to stay at their home, internet searches suggest she may have poisoned six people — but British good manners do not allow them to turn her away. The cast is led by Helen Thomson, with Alex Lee and Tim Walter as the couple, while Ty Arnott, Brooklyn Davies, Huw Higginson and Ben Wood complete the ensemble.

The first reviews from the premiere are divided: The Scoop gives the show four stars and calls it “the escape we need right now”, Cultural Binge rates Thomson’s performance at 3.5 stars, while Suzy Goes See finds the comedy too reliant on the clichés of British good manners. Many critics praise Isabel Hudson’s set design.

Written after a real holiday anecdote of Moffat’s, “The Unfriend” has previously played in the West End, the United States and across Europe, with the Sydney Theatre Company now presenting it as its Australian premiere.