Where and When: Chapel
off Chapel, May 9 to June 1, 2003
Reviewer: Kate
Herbert
Playwright, Lisa
Dethridge, worked as an analyst for NASA and the United Nations. In a response to working on such weighty analysis she wrote this
political satire about the world order.
The War Against
Short Trousers, directed by Kaarin Fairfax, parodies corporate power, western governments and their
corrupt leaders. Coming in for particularly
virulent criticism is George Bush and the USA. Close behind come England, Australia
and the Middle East.
Despite its concerns
with world issues, the play is not a drama. It is a broad comedy with cartoon-like
characters and a superficial commentary on issues of globalisation, invasion,
alliances and covert operations. The style is reminiscent
of the 1960s Agit Prop (Agitational
Propaganda) political theatre in England. Its message is blunt
and its form is intended to communicate to the broader community without any
depth.
The story reflects
the Middle East war and America's role as Big Brother and Australia's as Little
Brother. A major world power resembling
USA, is led by The Chairman (Tom
Stringer) who is a dead ringer in behaviour for George Bush. The Chairman appears
to represent Her Royal Majesty, The Queen (Chris Bunworth) but is in fact using her in his plot to
control the world.
In an outlying
island state called, rather too obviously, Kickembutt, a bumbling big baby of
a leader bears a striking resemblance to John Howard. The action is rapid,
deals are made, lovers lost, wars started during an eighty minutes romp. The script is thin
and old-fashioned in style with many predictable, even adolescent jokes
peppered with some clever satire.
There are some
strong performances particularly from David Lennie as the John Howard look-alike, Murray McMurray. His
impersonation and timing are impeccable. Kat Stewart as his ethical daughter, Kelly is lively and makes the most of the
style. Boc and Choi (Tarn Vu, Penelope Bartlau) provide some entertaining
moments as a duo of islanders.
The show is light,
warmly received and a bit of fun. The staging is rough and the cast too big for
comfort but it takes the mickey out of our world leaders. What more can we ask?
By Kate Herbert
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