Kazia Kaczmarek, James Wardlow, Ben Prendergast. Photo by Jodie Hutchinson.
NSFW (Not Safe For Work for those of us a little less internet savvy) offers a peek at two uncomfortable sides to the same coin: in this case, the world of magazine publishing. One is a sleazy men’s magazine and the other a women’s glossy which, while having polar opposite agendas, still find ways to exploit and manipulate their entry-level journalists into checking their morals at the door.
We first meet the staff of men’s magazine “Doghouse”, who have just announced the winner of their annual search for a topless amateur model to grace their cover, much to the pride of chief editor Aidan (Ben Prendergast). Things turn sour, however when their “theme-park loving, Twilight reading” prize find, turns out to be 14 and now her father is taking legal action.
Jump to nine months later and former “Doghouse” journo and scapegoat Sam, an electrifying and standout performance by Matthew Whitty, has picked himself up and is now vying for a position at “Electra”, a women’s magazine that seems to be everything his last job was not. But when during his interview, Sam is asked to search for and enlarge the “imperfections” of models and celebrities, he discovers the objectification of women in this environment is a much craftier beast.
Making it’s Australian premiere, playwright Lucy Kirkwood’s play combines blistering one-liners and elements of farce that are lost on this production, with a cast that appear more comfortable with the dramatic than the comic. Although quickly paced, the timing nevertheless seems a beat behind, leaving some punch lines to fizzle when they should pop. As Aiden, Pendergast aims high for many dimensions but somehow still retains a two-note performance, while Kasia Kaczmarek and Mark Casamento both seem miscast as the underling journalists. The dramatic scenes and moments stand out as the stronger sections of this production, as evidenced in two separate but similar scenes where both Chief Editors flex their powers of manipulation albeit, in drastically different ways.
The highly talented Tanya Dickson directs with a deft hand and brings focus and clarity to both the character’s journey and the world that has made them what they are. She understands there is no way out for characters that have no choice but to stay in jobs they tolerate, (as opposed to enjoy), and creates an inviting intimacy that inspires us to sympathise with everyone, even at their ugliest.
Eugyeene Teh’s imaginative set resembles the white, origami edition of a Betty Page centrefold, with a touch of leftover Brit-pop chic, that glows in Clare Springett’s subtle lighting design.
This production, while slightly flawed, still manages to be zesty enough to be an entertaining ride.
3 stars out of 5
NSFW
Written by Lucy Kirkwood
Directed by Tanya Dickson
Set & Costume Design by Eugyeene Teh
Lighting Design by Clare Springett
Cast: Mark Casamento, Olga Makeeva, Ben Perdergast, Matthew Whitty, Kasia Kaczmarek & James Wardlaw
22 November – 21 December 2013
Red Stitch, 2 Chapel Street, St. Kilda 3182
