Reviews

SUGAR is a very pink, very sweet, celebration of a performance, which beneath its sugary surface deals with important issues of anxiety, self esteem and the pressures faced by young women.

Central character Sugar (a picture perfect and delightful Claire Thomas), is feeling rejected, anxious and alone after a really disastrous party. She turns to the internet for help and finds “The Fixits”, a latter-day Spice Girls on steroids, who promise that they can fix any problem.

A few years ago I was discussing the television show Amazing Race in theatrical company, and it was noted that the Amazing Race was extremely popular amongst “theatre people”. Various theories were tossed around as to the reason for the correlation. Based on that discussion, I might suggest that readers of Stage Whispers are very likely to love The Obscure Tour.

The timing of this production provides the opportunity to reflect on the recent passing of same-sex marriage legislation in Australia. The play was first staged in 2005 and was an immediate hit for its raw yet tender examination of homosexuality. Only the absence of technology gives away its age. This revival highlights how the themes remain just as hard-hitting today.

Four engaging, talented actors tell stories of the experience of women and AIDS - from before the condition even had a name, let alone any treatment.  They tell of bafflement and fear, of ignorance, misdiagnosis, prejudice, rejection (including by families), misinformation, euphemisms, evasions, physical and mental suffering, and shame.  But there is also resilience, kindness, love, acceptance, unstinting efforts to find a cure – or at least amelioration – and the formation of support groups and communities of sufferers and carers.