Review: Captivating And Thought Provoking, PERMISSION TO SPIN Contemplates The Ethics, Integrity and Culpability That Applies Once A Product Is Released For the World

Tuesday 10th July 2018, 8pm, Old Fitz Theatre

Mary Rachel Brown's new work PERMISSION TO SPIN pits greed for fame and fortune against the ethical dilemma of an artist's culpability for what other's do with their work once it is released for public consumption. Co-directed by Brown and Dino Dimitriadis, who also serves as Producer, this is a well-crafted work which gives a frightening insight into the music industry whilst considering the insidiousness of children's music.

The premise of the three hander is that music producer Martin (Yure Covich) and artist manager Jim (Arky Michael) are planning to franchise children's pop music personality Miss Polkadot following the success of her latest recording for which she is due to receive an award. Fuelled by cocaine and whiskey and looking like a relic from the excess of the 80's and 90's, Martin is sinister and dangerous as he blackmails and manipulates to protect the product he has built. Jim is anxious and eager to please, desperate to ensure that Martin still wants to work with his only successful client, whilst trying to pacify and persuade his increasingly 'difficult' talent. Rounding out the trio, Cristobel (Anna Houston) is the face behind Miss Polkadot, a 32 year old musician who has inhabited the character for the past 14 years. The challenge comes when Cristobel tells the volatile producer that she no longer wishes make music for children, wanting to return to more artistic musical roots whilst still retaining the rights to the brand built around her image. Much of the hour long, one act play, which is confined to Martin's sleek office, is shrouded in mystery as the reason for Cristobel's desire to leave the children's entertainment industry remains unexplained beyond the fact that something happened 14 years ago that she and Jim have never really come to terms with.

Cris Baldwin's set reinforces Martin's persona of a high power producer that is driven by image and "packaging" over personality and substance. A sleek marble desk dominates the space which is lined with fabric clad wall panels. A lounge runs along one wall whilst an abstract artwork and a mirror lean against the others leading to the impression that he has upgraded offices on the back of Miss Polkadot's success. Isabella Cannavo's costume design helps cement the image of each character, from the powerful Martin to the shabbier Jim and the adult trapped in a somewhat childlike amalgam that is Cristobel's combination of 90's high top sneakers paired with older sultry makeup.

Brown and Dimitriadis have created a wonderfully tight, well paced show that captures the volatility of the trio that includes two that are nearly perpetually fuelled by narcotics and liquor. The trio deliver captivating performances that ensure the sinister side of the business is exposed along with the callous reality that lurks behind the false comfort and platitudes presented to placate their star. The twist in the story is confronting, and more so when it is realised that the premise on which Brown has written the work is based on the reality of the 'torture lite' music 'discos' run by US interrogators that used popular music and children's music played on constant loop, at high volume, for days on end. Whilst anyone with small children can relate to the pain of hearing the big purple dinosaur's theme song on constant repeat, imagining it on perpetual loop at full volume with no ability to escape it is particularly disturbing and Cristobel's inability to come to terms with how her music is being used is understandable.

Interesting, intriguing and eye opening in its exploration of the question of whether the music makers can or should be held responsible for how their work is later used by third parties, this look at the entertainment industry and the concept of people as 'products' to buy and sell ask important questions. Whilst PERMISSION TO SPIN isn't clean cut, Brown and Dimitriadis have presented a engaging work that proves interesting for anyone in the entertainment industry, anyone that has been subjected to music for children and anyone that appreciates good theatre.

PERMISSION TO SPIN

3 July - 28 July 2018

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