Casey and Diana
Writer: Nick Green
Director: Nancy Denis
Qtopia, Darlinghurst
22 July – 8 August, 2026
Mi Todo’s production of Nick Green’s award-winning play Casey and Diana is a powerfully emotional work set in the Casey Hospice in Toronto, an imagined situation inspired by the actual visit of Princess Diana in October, 1991. It explores the experience of HIV/AIDS patients and the difficulties of caring for them.
Both patients and staff are excited by the visit of Princess Diana, whose compassionate attitude towards AIDS sufferers was greatly admired, is to take place in a week’s time. However, in a hospice such as Casey, life expectancy is taken one day at a time. Chad Traupmann as Thomas creates a wonderfully flamboyant patient who, on the surface, retains his equanimity, but every now and then the mask slips, and his fear and terror show through.
Thomas is distracted by the arrival of ward-mate Andre (Gabriel Alvarado), who is initially terrified, but gradually calms down under the ministrations of kindly volunteer nurse, Marjorie (Linda Nicholls-Gidley). In his more lucid moments Thomas tries to befriend Andre but his ward-mate is an impenetrable hive of conflicting fears and the little interchange they achieve creates some much-needed comic relief.
As they experience fluctuating symptoms the audience gains insight into the times when they are less lucid. Thomas relates to a fantasised Princess Diana how he watched every second of her wedding and still relives every moment. Andre by contrast, still frets about what happens to his belongings – endearing human traits which are emotionally wrenching.
Then there is the tremendous responsibility shouldered by their carers. Vera (Isobel Burton) is impressive as the efficient but tough head nurse. Despite the necessity for meeting standards, she manages with the assistance of volunteer nurse Marjorie to add a warm, communal ambience to the hospital.
Emotional drama arrives in the form of Thomas’s feisty sister, Pauline (Lucy Miller), who is naturally concerned about his well-being, but he is having none of it. He finds her inability to hug him – she fears contracting the virus – deeply upsetting. Pauline, for her part, tries desperately to repair their relationship, despite the shouting match that ensues.
The final female role, a small one, is that of Princess Diana who flits in and out of the play, sometimes as a fantasy. Lib Campbell plays her convincingly, with a suitable wig, pearls and with the familiar gestures that we recognise. The climax is the princess’s arrival at the hospice and, lo and behold, she has no hesitation in embracing the ill men, thereby substantially lessening the stigma that attached to touching AIDS patients.
Despite its seemingly bleak theme the overall effect is warm, heartfelt and darkly humorous, thanks to the firm direction of Nancy Denis. The play certainly resonated with the audience, some who exited somewhat teary-eyed, so adding another fine work to Qtopia’s already excellent repertoire.
