Rud's Wife

“An ironic comedy about a disconnected New Zealand family” is the tagline to this early Alison Maclean short. Recently widowed Nan (Yvonne Lawley) assesses her life and the roles prescribed by her family as she readies a Sunday roast. Her new plans — “I won’t be able to make the Christmas Cake this year” — rattle the shackles of her Old Testament-bashing husband and her ex-All Black son. Nan was a comeback leading role for Lawley after time away raising a family. Written with playwright Norelle Scott, Maclean’s short screened with the About Face TV series.

Of course, he got better as he got older. He used to turn his hearing aid right down so he didn’t hear a half of what was being said when the family came around.

– Nana (Yvonne Lawley)

Key Cast & Crew

Yvonne Lawley

As: Nan

Norelle Scott

Writer, Continuity

Alison Maclean

Writer, Director, Producer

Gary Inglis

As: Mark

Belinda Schmid

As: Jane

Vivienne Lawn

As: Tim