This wrap of shows around Melbourne includes a thrilling play about footy and racism; the Jonas Brothers’ play Rod Laver Arena on first-ever Australian tour, Fred again..’s instant arena tour; and two comedies: one about two super-Karens meeting for their weekly lunch, and another about two young men who have to deal with a sick cow.
Move over David Williamson, we have a new five-star footy playMUSIC: Fred again.. is a talisman for the big emotions of his communityThis wrap of shows around Melbourne includes a thrilling five-star Melbourne Theatre Company play about footy and racism; the Jonas Brothers’ first-ever Australian tour at Rod Laver Arena; music producer Fred again..
It varies greatly in scale. There’s the simple awkwardness and confusion of some white teammates. One priceless scene sees the Marngrooks defer to the long-suffering captain with a mischievous wink, every time a player asks themselves: “Is racist?”But playwright Nathan Maynard doesn’t pull his punches: one player harbours an inveterate prejudice that no cultural awareness course can fix.
One of them arrives late because her husband took her car and, as she declares in annoyance, she “had to make do with the Beamer”. You can imagine how they treat the waiter – and it is Clare Bartholomew’s turn as the mute representative of the working class that delivers, through silent clowning, the most assured hilarity.
He’s distracted from this depressing quest by his mate Snowy, an amiable and unformed fellow who takes things as they come rather than working himself into a lather trying to make them happen.