BWW Reviews: ADELAIDE FRINGE 2014: FIVE.POINT.ONE PRESENTS 'NOTORIOUSLY YOURS' BY VAN BADHAM Showcases A Disturbing Microcosm Of Our Society

Reviewed by Christine Pyman, Wednesday 5th March 2014

This was the world premier of Van Badham's newest play, Notoriously Yours. As would be expected by cognoscenti of her work, it was a multilayered performance set in our current world of cyberspace, connected with deeply disturbing reality bites. The film noir appearance enhanced this by utilising our intimate reality, our city, together with the grainy black and white videos, projected onto a large screen, that we associate with old films, with equal action on both.

As a projection of our age it was perfect, the immediate attention grabbing, slightly disjointed, but connected short series of acts, use of mobile phones, layered paranoia becoming more obvious with increasing knowledge, and again I must use the word, "intimate" behaviour of internet users within the comfort of apparent anonymity. Another indication of the interleaved perfection of reality of this work was that it was Pozible funded, so the entire play is a living microcosm of the internet lifestyle.

The drama was played out by four cast members with all of them, excepting Claire Glenn, having multiple roles, enhancing the idea of reality as presented by appearance that the internet promotes. Glenn's role showcased a versatility of more than everyday emotions as the catalyst character, with Matt Crook, Craig Behenna, and Brad Williams acting and interacting as frightening foils. Crook's performance was particularly chilling.

The final lines left the audience silent with the realisation of their truth; "No freedom without privacy. There is no end until there is no surveillance state".

The play gave us the discomfort of holding our phones up to mirror ourselves in an ultimately chilling look at currently socially accepted mores and politics, and what is possible/probable when they intersect.

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