The Cry of the Hour Review

 

The Cry of the Hour, by Paramita Roy
Performed at the Back2Back Short Show Festival

Paramita Roy’s The Cry of the Hour is a moving and thought-provoking work that brings together three stories of women confronting abuse and injustice, both in Australia and abroad. The production highlights the courage and resilience of women as they face violence, discrimination, and societal indifference.

The first storyline follows Tiana, who portrays Gwan Yin—affectionately nicknamed Tim Tam by her friends. She is caught in a toxic relationship, suffering repeated abuse at the hands of her boyfriend. Her attempts to cover up her injuries, arriving at work with a black eye and excuses about “running into doorknobs,” strike a painful but honest chord. With the support of her friends, she eventually finds the strength to remove herself from this dangerous situation, offering a message of empowerment and solidarity, without losing her passion for playing music.

The second tale features Manuela as Kalii, who endures sexual harassment in a pub when a man gropes her. What follows is a mix of dark humour and justice, as the assailant ends up hospitalised after being “flattened like a pancake” by a group of biker sheilas. Despite her insistence that she acted in self-defence—asserting that “women’s bodies are not public property”—Kalii finds herself questioned by police, illuminating the persistent gender bias that pervades society’s treatment of victims.

The third story centres on Agni, played by Harshada, who receives a letter from her mother in India warning her not to return home. The letter tells of the violence and punishment inflicted on women who speak out against systemic abuse. Refusing to stay silent, Agni and her friends decide to travel to India to confront the issue head-on, joined by their fierce and tattooed biker companion, Maryam (Jessica). Together, they represent a united front against global violence toward women.

Krystan enhances the production with his soulful singing, performing Archie Roach’s Walking into Doors and George Colburn’s Freedom is Bleeding. Both songs serve as emotional anchors, underscoring the play’s themes of pain, survival, and liberation. A beautifully choreographed dance performed by three Indian women adds another layer of cultural richness, celebrating heritage and resilience through movement.

Writer, director, and producer Paramita Roy has crafted a heartfelt narrative that addresses deeply important issues. The intention and messaging are powerful, though the production would benefit from further revisions. The script and pacing can be refined to strengthen dramatic flow and maintain audience engagement. Many transitions were notably long, with each curtain close breaking the emotional rhythm. Quicker, more fluid set changes conducted in view of the audience would help sustain momentum, especially since the sets themselves are minimal. Frequent costume changes also slowed the pacing at times.

While a few accents were occasionally hard to understand, this is a small trade-off for the authenticity and diversity of a multicultural cast. The ensemble’s passion and sincerity were evident throughout, and their commitment to telling these stories deserves acknowledgement.

Despite the technical hiccups, The Cry of the Hour delivers an important message with sincerity and conviction. It’s a bold and necessary piece of theatre that, with a few more revisions, could evolve into a truly powerful work. A respectful and solid 50-minute performance that I’m proud to support.

- Andrew Broadbent