World War T

Attacking Donald Trump is like shooting fish in a barrel.  Crass, ignorant, lying, racist, misogynist...  Yeah, yeah.  A sitting duck.  Nevertheless, we’re all obsessed and afraid: this crazy could become the most powerful man in the world.  Given that there’s not much Australians can do about it, maybe the best thing is to laugh.  That’s what this show does – with heaps of energy, verve, slapstick, sly insight and occasional wit. 

The scary premise – and framing device - is that Trump has won, he’s in the White House, and the world is in terrified chaos.  Then we go back – but not too far back – to ask - but not actually to answer - the question: how did this happen?   There’s no mention of Trump’s opposition to free trade agreements, anger about which is the basis for his working class support, but maybe World War T is not the kind of show to get too nuanced or complex.

The cast of three - Sophie Power, Juliet Hindmarsh and Sal Arif – are all loud, frenetic, over-the-top and engaging.  They switch characters with amazing speed from sketch to sketch.  Essentially that’s what this show is: a series of short, punchy, in-your-face sketches of, let’s face it, uneven quality.  A standout is a quiz conducted by the very watchable Ms Hindmarsh about who said what.  Who said… [insert quote]?  Trump or Tony Abbott?  Trump or Clinton?  Trump or Hitler?  Etc.  Right answers are rewarded with sweets hurled into with audience.  Another is a Trump/Clinton debate in which Clinton (Ms Power, who can change direction in a flash) never gets to say anything (this may be prescient).  Trump (Mr Arif) makes a speech, constantly corrected by an appalled minder (Ms Power).  (‘It’s an election… sir, not an erection!.’  Yes, it is that kind of show – but no cruder than its target.)

Despite the ritzy, high prestige names of the companies involved (see above), this show is distinctly low rent.  A tiny bare stage with blacks.  Costume changes are minimal, as are props (brooms feature prominently) and Trump’s wall along the Mexican border is a stack of cardboard boxes.  Writer and director Blair Moro, who also does the lighting and some Voice Over, says his primary aim is fun – and he casts on the same principle.  On that basis – fun – World War T succeeds.

Michael Brindley