Review: Centred On The World Of Clinical Studies, THE EFFECT Delves Into The Difference Between Love and Lust and The Need For Accountability And Control.

Saturday 21st April 2018, 8pm, Old Fitz Theatre

With the backdrop of a clinical study, THE EFFECT contemplates the relationship between medicine, manipulation and mental health. Director Andrew Henry (also Artistic Director of Red Line Productions) brings Lucy Prebble's play back to the Sydney stage with captivating clarity in the intimate Old Fitz Theatre.

Presenting the work on a traverse stage with the audience peering down from all corners of the theatre helps link the work to the medical science lectures of old but this time the subjects aren't being physically dissected on the central stage but rather their mental and physical reactions to Lorna (Emma Jackson) and Toby's (Johnny Nasser) trial are up for inspection. The premise of the work is that Lorna is the psychiatrist overseeing the clinical trial of a new drug under the recommendation of acclaimed psychiatrist and frequent face on the conference circuit, her mentor Toby. Whilst most of Lorna's test subjects are only referred to, THE EFFECT focuses in on Tristan (Firass Dirani), a regular participant with no fixed ambitions, and Connie (Emilie Cocquerel), a first time subject interested in the process due to her being a psychology student. With Connie being the only woman in this test group and the rest of the men being of other persuasions, Connie and Tristan strike up a friendship but the presence of the drugs leads to the question of whether it is the medicine or real feelings that are driving them. Layered above the mental health manipulation, psychopharmacology and neuroscience, issues of love, lust, honesty and hopelessness come into play as relationships threaten to derail the experiment and it becomes clear that the controllers aren't as in control as they'd like.

Brodie Simpson has given the traverse stage a raised central space lined with bright white tiles to replicate the sterile world of medical facilities. The costumes, also by Simpson, are kept simple with Connie remaining in a white lab coat whilst she has control of the experiment and subjects Tristan and Connie changing from casual street clothes to uniform grey tracksuits and canvas slip on shoes. Toby is distanced from the day to day operations of the program by remaining in a less official semi casual shirt and pants.

Benjamin Freeman's sound design and composition heightens the work and his live performance, delivered from high in the corner of the theatre, gives a liveliness to the work as well as providing a soundtrack to Connie and Tristan's rebellious dancing. Alexander Berlage has developed a lighting design that emphasises the stark white space with bars of fluorescent lights, spotlights and a mirror ball. It is however his illuminated floor that provides the greatest imagery as the two subjects seek relief and escape from the Lorna's rules and restrictions.

The performances are solid with the increased anxiety exhibited by the test subjects being presented with intensity and passion as their reactions are blurred between the drugs and real emotion. Dirani ensures that Tristan is seen as more street wise but less educated whilst Cocquerel reinforces that Connie is a student as she tries to analyse the processes and determine whether she is really being affected by the increasing dosages. With a degree of clarity and resentment, Jackson demonstrates Lorna's increasing discomfort with Toby whilst ensuring that her underlying issues with him are starting to show whilst Nasser ensures that Toby remains confident and cocky, unfazed by the fact that he'd let Lorna on and that he has a reputation with the women of the clinical psychology conference circuit.

In a time where there are 15,306 registered trials listed with the Australia and New Zealand Clinical Trial Registry as at March 2018, of which 2105 were related to mental health and mental health issues are on the rise, or at least more people are accepting they have issues, the question of medications for mental health is worth considering and Prebble layers in issues of control, unrequited love, fidelity and trust into the mix to make this a relevant and relatable work on a variety of levels. Whilst the work could possibly be truncated and fit into a single sitting, the interval lengthening the work without providing any additional value save a chair, THE EFFECT is an interesting expression of love, loyalty, ethics and humanity and Henry's clean interpretation is engaging with a good balance of energy.

THE EFFECT

18th April - 19th May 2018

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