Trophy Boys

This sharp-witted play puts a mirror up to the arrogance that characterises the entitled and highly spoilt young men being churned out of private schools across western culture. The reflection that is cast is rather ugly, but it is also extremely humorous. The play is set during the preparation for an important debate whose outcome could significantly impact the future ambitions of the four members of the team. The accuracy with which these young men are captured is disarming; the complete sense of self-righteousness and impunity is clearly written across their faces and their gestures and every word they utter. The verbose text is nicely balanced with idioms, everyday speech, and copious amounts of cursing. The train of thought for the debate topic is lucid and nuanced, and the dramatic events they must face are palpable and powerfully conveyed. 

The performances are not only strong because of the way they manage the intensity of the language but also because of the impeccable timing and commitment to character. Emmanuelle Mattana as Owen provides an incredible tour de force; the rapid-fire delivery of the complex text is both entertaining and impressive. Fran Sweeney-Nash portrays Jared with the kind of accuracy and precision that guarantees amusement. Leigh Lule as David brings strong dramatic intensity to the role and Gaby Seow as Scott perfectly captures the pompous nature of these characters. Despite portraying such flawed characters, the text and the performances allow the full scope of their personas to emerge. This makes the characters real enough to sympathise with their incredibly blinkered lives. The simplicity of the set design also supports this sense of realism which offsets the parody and satire inherent in the text and the performances.

Trophy Boys is a strong indictment of the patriarchal structures that encourage the kind of institutions that raise boys in this socially detrimental manner. It draws a direct line between such sickening privilege and the insistence on binary gender roles and suggests that this is part of the broader social problem. The writing is compelling, the performances are insightful, and the show offers the opportunity for some serious social introspection without being heavy handed.

Patricia Di Risio 

Photographer: Ben Andrews