Sydney Theatre Company presents a Melbourne Theatre Company production
The Grenade
by Tony McNamara

Someone has planted a grenade in the kitchen of the McTavish family home. Although the pin remains firmly in place, political consultant and man of the house Busby McTavish (Garry McDonald) has just exploded into a paranoid frenzy of security insecurity.

No one is above suspicion. And in Busby’s line of work he could have any number of enemies. As if the prospect of an imminent and gruesome death weren’t sufficient reason to be anxious, Busby has other causes for paranoia. Sexually voracious author of erotic fiction, Randy Savage, is paying an alarming amount of attention to his wife, while his precious daughter is being wooed by the slightly strange, balaclava-clad Wheat. Who are these men and why are they trying to steal his women? Will his wife be seduced by Randy? Will his daughter be seduced by Randy?

As Busby attempts to discover the identity of the phantom grenade planter he finds himself becoming increasingly obsessed with protecting those he loves. In doing so, he risks exposing them all to an even greater danger…

A play for our times, The Grenade is the latest hilarious romp from indomitable comic playwright, Tony McNamara (The Great, The Give and Take). This whodunnit comedy of fidelity, marriage and inter-generational relationships mercilessly satirises our national obsession with security.


2 Hours, Including Interval

Frequent strong language
Venue: Drama Theatre, Sydney Opera House

Photo: Derek Henderson