In Loco Parentis

The culture of sexual abuse and coercion that exists in religious, sporting or educational organisations is explored in In Loco Parentis. Taking us into the sexually charged, boisterous atmosphere of St Joseph’s College, the play deals with the events and politics surrounding an alleged sexual assault.

Hannah Wood is excellent as senior resident Katy, conveying both steel and vulnerability, while Dylan van den Berg captures the moral ambiguities around college captain Mitch, who is accused of but denies raping Sarah. Kate Blackhurst and Catherine Crowley as Jillian Bryce, the head of college, and sexual harassment officer Jana Abernach, bristle with hostility. The direction is tight and economic.

This script feels a little undercooked with what look like structural issues. The play starts with speeches at the opening function of the college, and for quite a long time most of the action is offstage and is explicated through dialogue. Although the language is true to university people, much of it is wordy political rhetoric along predictable lines, particularly between Bryce and Abernach, which has the potential to lose the audience. An edit to cut the verbage to the bare minimum would tighten and add vitality. I would have liked to hear from Sarah, the girl at the centre of the rape allegation. She does not actually appear and her story is told by other characters, which has the effect of dampening the action. However, the student scenes are spot on, and the devastating climax is reveals thought provoking subtleties in the motivation of the characters.

A fine first full-length play by Helen Machalias, which students living in colleges around the country would benefit from seeing.  

Cathy Bannister