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This is not the first time that I have seen an Australian playwright target a ‘fictional’ prime time radio broadcaster.
Back in March 2005 the Sydney Theatre Company invited me to review David Williamson’s then new play INFLUENCE starring John Waters as shock jock radio presenter Ziggy Blasco who filled the ‘Life 608’ airwaves with his ramblings and diatribes Williamson’s play focuses on the contradictions between Blasco’s public life where he was boss and his private life which was in chaos.It was an engrossing night of theatre with of-course Williamson’s trademark zippy one liners.
Now the Ensemble Theatre has premiered another play, by Australian playwright Melanie Tait,, which tackles the subject of these obnoxious characters again. A BROADCAST COUP is Tait’s second play for the Ensemble after her 2019 play THE APPLETON LADIES’ POTATO RACE, which after its season at the Ensemble Theatre toured nationally and has upcoming productions listed for Queensland and New Zealand. Her new play puts the spotlight on gruff, obnoxious broadcaster Mike and his behavioural issues which prove increasingly problematic.
I enjoyed this show but I had some problems with it which I will come to soon.
Watson’s direction was assured and her cast each gave strong performances.
Tony Cogin played the gruff male lead Mike well, maybe a bit too convincingly.
Amber McMahon was the zealous journalist and podcaster Jez who steadily builds up her case and plans the coup.
Ben Gerard played Troy, part of the radio management, who has little patience with Mike’s abrupt, belligerent manner. Gerard plays his prissy, effeminate character well, Mike underestimates him, and sees him as a pushover however he learns the hard way that he can be very firm and forthright when he needs to be.
Alex King was Noa, a newbie to the radio station, who draws the raw straw, with her first job being cantankerous Mike’s assistant.
Sharon Millerchip was excellent as Mike’s long suffering producer Louise who for many years has looked after and protected Mike, without anything coming back to her. Millderchip conveys her character’s sensitive, giving, good nature well.
Watson’s creative team excel in creating the world for the actors to work in. Veronique Benett’s slick, very functional set and apt costume design, Matt Cox’s sharp lighting design and Clare Hennessy’s atmospheric score and sound design, all blended well together.
Now to the issues that I have with the show..
Tait has set the play in a public radio station which comes under government funding and regulation. I have never heard a morning shift broadcaster on a public radio station behave in the garrulous way that Mike does. I just didn’t believe it. Now if it was a commercial radio station in a similar way to 2GB with Ben Fordham and Ray Hadley who just love being emotive and controversial because it boosts the ratings and brings in the advertising, well yes then sure I would believe it. But a broadcaster on public radio?
The other problem that I had with the play was that, in my view, one of the plays main goals was not realised. In both the writer’s and director’s program notes they say that they did not want to present a good versus bad guy/villain scenario. But this is exactly what happens in this production. As the play progressed, you could feel the audience turning against Mike. The woman next to me was cringing in her seat at Mike’s insensitive, salacious ways.To me Mike was very much a villain type, and the play even became a bit melodramatic as a result.
Ultimately, I found the play too black and white, and lacked the shades of gray needed to fully engage with it.
Melanie Tait’s A BROADCAST COUP is playing the Ensemble Theatre, 78 McDougall Street, Kirribilli until the 4th March 2023.
