Stay Woke

Image: Rose Adams and Brooke Lee.

When Niv (Dushan Philips) is instructed by his brother Sai (Kaivu Suvarna) to use the term “ministers for barking” as the new term for the word ‘dogs’ (as an exercise in adopting new more politically correct terminology) the play exhibits one of its typically amusing and simultaneously thought-provoking pieces of dialogue. In this very insightful play woke politics comes under as much fire as the commonplace assumption of white privilege. 

The text offers some difficult and confronting content which could easily come across as cliched in less capable hands, but this is a very taut production. Every aspect of the play speaks to the subject matter of the text; set and lighting design, costuming, staging, performances and direction are all meticulously thought out. The result is a mature and sophisticated reflection on an often misunderstood or ridiculed social movement and suggests that being true to any politics is never an easy or a straightforward enterprise. 

Image: Dushan Philips and Brooke Lee.

Niv and Sai are brothers who have dealt with their marginalised positions as people of colour in very different ways. Niv embraces veganism, an alternative lifestyle and is in a meaningful relationship with the very charismatic non-binary person, Mae (Brooke Lee). Sai, on the other hand, is more assimilationist in his approach to battling the racism and violence that pervaded their upbringing. This is reflected in Sai’s choice of work and his partner, Kate (Rose Adams), who is white and evidently clueless when it comes to wokeness. During a weekend getaway the motivations as well as the flaws in their various and often-contradicting perspectives are unveiled.

This produces some electrifying dramatic moments as Niv's anger is constantly provoked by what he perceives as sheer complacency and ignorance from Sai and Kate. Although Mae is adept at mediation, even they sometimes struggle to negotiate the vast differences in their different outlooks. This is where the strength of the performances is vital. Niv is able to convey fury without alienating the audience and his facial expressions are often priceless. Sai is also not a complete sell out. The personal advantages of his more moderate approach to dealing with disparity are made plausible by Suvarna’s ability to convey Sai’s amenable personality.

Image: Rose Adams, Kaivu Suvarna, Dushan Philips and Brooke Lee.

Kate is the character who might yield the least sympathy from the audience but Adams's wonderfully apologetic demeanour achieves both naivety and authenticity. This makes her character irritating but also credible. Mae is perhaps the most composed character but Lee is able to convey vulnerability and this helps to reveal Mae’s own inner demons. The direction supports the very individual nature of these characters and allows the wit and comedy of the text to flourish, and this cleverly avoids resorting to stereotypes.

All of this is played out in a setting which is one of the more obvious signs of privilege; the four characters take refuge in a very comfortable and secluded mountain chalet. This sets up one of the most fundamental questions in the play. How do you reconcile the comforts and pleasures that a western capitalist system offers while preaching a politics that wishes to dismantle that system? This excellent production succeeds in playfully and artfully inviting the audience to contemplate the complexities of such questions.

Patricia Di Risio 

Image: Rose Adams, Brooke Lee, Kaivu Suvarna and Dushan Philips.

Photographer: Phoebe Powell