The Debate - 9 out of 10
Holden Street Theatres
TICKETS: The Debate | Adelaide Fringe
The Debate
is written by Martha Lott and directed by Nick Fagan – the first of Fagan’s
works at Holden Street Theatres as their latest residency director. This 60-minute
play is a two-hander between author Martha Lott, and her daughter, Amelia
Lott-Watson.
A mother
sits waiting, filled with ambition and pride. Her daughter, Chloe, is
exceptional, smart and the state’s top debater. She is on the verge of national
selection, but a rivalry ignites that pushes motherly love to the edge. She
understands the power of words: it’s her job!
Lott’s
script touches on many problematic themes – racism, AI, social media, fake
profiles, online bullying – it’s all there, and it’s all confronting in a real-world
case study designed to ruin another student’s dignity and reputation. A daring
script, forcing audiences to find where they draw their own line when protecting
someone.
As daughter
Chloe, Amelia has done a phenomenal job in creating a character that begins
with being the typical teenager, annoyed at her parents regardless of what they
do, but secretly knowing they’re doing what’s right. And then Chloe gets called
into the principal’s office… without her mother, and after the crux of the play
unfolds by Martha’s character (we’ll get to that in a minute), Chloe returns in
a whole new light that tells an entire story in which what occurred in the principal’s
office. Chloe’s final monologue, confronting her mother about her wrongdoings
and the consequences that now befall both characters is indeed confronting, not
only character to character – but also the daughter to mother in real life
relationship, ending with tears falling down Martha’s face. Amelia’s work as
Chloe is exceptional!
Mother Mara
was a former debater, who later becomes a savvy political strategist. Through
her extra-curricular activities and her career, she not only develops the words
to cut through arguments and win but also develops the ability to problem solve
her way through situations that arise. When Mara uses these skills to give her daughter
the winning edge in becoming captain of the debating team, it all unfolds…
Martha’s acting chops are off the chart, delivering much of the dialogue in this
production while keeping the audience consistently on the edge of their seat.
Once Chloe is in the principal’s office, Mara unleashes on what she has done, inserting
jokes that don’t soften the blow of her actions, but instead push buttons and
reactions.
The Debate controls
the audience’s attention, looking at the seductive power of persuasion words
can have when they are curated to control a narrative. The writing is smart,
daring and confronting.
- Andrew Broadbent
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