I’m loving New Theatre‘s commitment to new work.
Chris Aronsten’s Off The Record was shortlisted for the 2021 Silver Gull Play Award and here it is on New’s stage. (New Theatre deserves congratulations for continuing this award – as does whoever initially established it.)
Off The Record is a fun comedy that deals with serious issues.
In some ways, it’s a curious example of contemporary Australian writing; for instance, it’s set in contemporary England.
There are laughs aplenty, but there’s also a powerful exploration of what it takes to blow the whistle.
Corporate heavyweight Tony has done wrong. Employee Janine and TV journalist Jenny seek justice for the victims. But Jenny is an alcoholic and Janine is … well, eccentric. (Tony complains – and perhaps I paraphrase – “You can’t call a woman crazy anymore.”)
Director Jess Davis’ cast deliver wonderful performances. Michela Noonan as Jenny magically blends sass and vulnerability. Suzann James’ Janine is both very funny and very moving. Belinda Hoare as Jenny’s AA sponsor has a magnificently truthful delivery; simple, honest and raw. Joe Clements as Tony gives a suitably disturbing portrait of pompous privilege.
The script has some intriguing absences. Tony’s sin is outlined but (fortunately) not shown. His guilt is never really up for question, but is what he’s done a crime? Or is it an abuse of power? Abuses of power are not automatically illegal. (Perhaps this was all clarified and I simply missed it.)
The other absence is the victims. They remain off stage.
The result of these creative choices is that the whistleblowers, flaws and all, are placed front and centre. And what we get is a beautiful portrait of what it is to do right, to try to do right. To make a better world, saints are not required. We’ll do.
Paul Gilchrist
Off The Record by Chris Aronsten
at New Theatre until 5 Aug
Image by Bob Seary
Theatre Red 
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