Paper at Owl and Cat Theatre - Review

Paper at Owl and Cat Theatre - Review

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Posted 2016-05-13 by Mistress of Culture Vulturesfollow

Tue 10 May 2016 - Sat 14 May 2016


'Paper' is a play superbly written by local playwright Thomas Ian Doyle about the questionable ethics of media at the expense of human dignity. The sixty minute piece is now showing at the Owl and Cat Theatre in Richmond until 14 May. Book your tickets here

Alix (Gabrielle Savrone), chief editor of the Melbourne Times calls an emergency meeting with her team to hatch a scheme to take down The National, a leading competitor.

At the meeting, Alix reveals 'The Plan'; Brenner (Maximillian Johnson) a 16 year old boy and sex worker. Alix' grand plan is for Brenner to seduce Tod Williams, the CEO of The National and take photos of their liaison.

Fellow journalist's Lake (Sergej Arcaba) and Sandy (Carolyn Dawson) question Alix's ethics to engage an underage boy to get a front page headline. However, on seeing the results join Alix in her crusade for the Melbourne Times to be the number one newspaper.

Brenner is confined to live at Alix's house and spends time with Nathan (Brayden Lewtas), a 25 year old photographer at the Melbourne Times. Despite Nathan's misgivings about the scheme, Brenner carries through with 'The Plan'. The story gets front page media attention, and Brenner and Nathan are confined to Alix's house until the media frenzy subsides.

However, Tod Williams sues the Melbourne Times for defamation claiming that the 'school boy' told him he was 18 years of age, and sex was consensual.

After a drunken night celebrating the 'fail' the trio hatches a second 'plan' to bring down the National Times. This time Nathan will bait Tod Williams by dressing Brenner in a school boy uniform, and photograph their liaison.

Why will it work this time?

Alix reveals that Tod Williams attempted to rape Nathan, whilst he was a graduate at the National Times. Alix believes Tod will be unable to resist Brenner in a school boy uniform, which will prove that he is a paedophile.

Again Brenner and Nathan fulfil the task and Alix, Lake and Sandy rejoice in the photos and the front page story, but abandon all responsibility for the psychological needs of their 'bait'.

I am impressed at how the cast pulled this performance together in a very short timeframe. Intense work can produce great work.

The Owl and Cat Theatre continues to produce high quality new work and writing despite the challenges to stay viable in the independent theatre scene. This is a great show and I look forward to further developments from Thomas Ian Doyle and the Owl and Cat Theatre team. Independent theatre needs to be supported, so please make a date in your calendar to visit the Owl and Cat Theatre soon.

#Drama
#near_melbourne
#performing_arts
#richmond
#theatre
#theatre -reviews
#theatres
#may
!date 10/05/2016 -- 14/05/2016
%wnmelbourne
156242 - 2023-06-14 12:06:33

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