My Fair Lawyer
Playwright: Tony Laumberg
Director: Richard Cotter
Bondi Pavilion Theatre, Bondi Beach
20 June – 28 June 2026
Tony Laumberg’s My Fair Lawyer is a light-hearted satire of family secrets, legal egos and cultural misunderstandings. Running for 75 minutes without an interval, the production aims squarely for broad comedy and audience entertainment, and for the most part succeeds. While the play does not break new ground in either its story or its humour, it provides an enjoyable evening built on lively performances and a likeable cast.
The premise is straightforward. Successful Sydney lawyer Henry Crowley and his wife Margaret see their comfortable St Ives existence disrupted when Cheryl, a young law graduate claiming to be Henry’s illegitimate daughter, appears on their doorstep seeking both answers and employment. The situation is further complicated by the revelation that the husband and wife have both been secretly consulting the same eccentric psychiatrist, Dr Rahmish J. Punjab.
Laumberg’s script delivers a steady stream of jokes, puns and comic misunderstandings. As a solicitor himself, Laumberg writes with an insider’s understanding of the legal profession, which lends authenticity to many of the play’s satirical observations. Although the audience responded warmly throughout, many of the punchlines and plot developments are predictable. The story unfolds in a largely expected fashion and rarely ventures beyond its central premise. While there are hints of commentary about changing Australian society and cultural differences, these ideas remain secondary to the play’s focus on generating laughs.
The production’s greatest strength is undoubtedly its cast. Martin Portus and Deirdre Campbell work well together as Henry and Margaret, creating believable chemistry as a long-married couple whose lives are suddenly thrown into chaos. Their comic timing keeps the energy high and helps elevate even some of the more familiar material.
Felicity Cribb is a standout as Cheryl. Bringing warmth, enthusiasm and optimism to the role, she becomes the emotional centre of the play and injects a welcome freshness into every scene. Gantanter Singh Gill also provides some of the evening’s funniest moments as Dr Punjab, whose unconventional methods and well-delivered one-liners generated several of the biggest laughs from the audience.
From a production standpoint, the staging remains relatively simple, with the set and direction serving the story rather than enhancing it in any particularly memorable way. However, the cast’s commitment ensures that the production never loses momentum.
Ultimately, My Fair Lawyer is an amiable and entertaining comedy that relies more on the talents and enthusiasm of its performers than on the originality of its writing. While it may not surprise audiences, it offers enough charm, humour and good-natured fun to make for an enjoyable night at the theatre. Note that prospective attendees should check the performance schedule.
