The Guild Theatre at Rockdale is currently home to a satisfying revival of David Williamson’s play about sexual harrassment in the workplace, ‘Brilliant Lies’. In a quirky bit of timing, the Guild’s production opened around the same time that Kristy Fraser-Kirk gave her press conference announcing the filing of a $37 milion punitive damages claim against David Jones for alleged sexual harrassment that she received at the hands of former chief executive, Mark McInnes.

‘Brilliant Lies’ sees Susy, a spirited young woman, file a sexual harrassment claim for $40,000 with the Anti Discrimination Tribunal against her boss, Gary, after he fires her. Gary, and his boss and the company owner Vince, vigorously fight the claim. During the play Williamson not only takes us into the company’s offices but also deeply into Susy’s private and family life.

The play is not a straighforward, black and white retelling of a sexual harrassment case. ‘Brilliant Lies’ has plenty of shades of grey, and takes a much broader perspective. The expansive quality of the play is brought out well in Rachel Cliffe’s clear and strongly performed production.

As Susy, Bettina Girdler makes for a compelling Williamson protagonist. She gives a portrait of an impatient, opportunitistic, manipulative young woman who will do anything in her powers to get what she wants.

Susy’s family know that she is a handful! We get to meet them all. Allyson McKinnon-Howett plays her caring, good natured sister, Katy. Daniel Cooper is her brother Vince who has a harder edge about him, and is more cynical in regards to his sister. Malcolm Gregory plays their ill, aging father, Brian, who wasn’t too good with boundaries when his two daughters were growing up.

Yolando Spata came across well as the very professional mediator, Marion, whose patience is stretched to the maximum by Susy’s petulance.

David Pointon played the alleged perpetrator, Gary, with Peter Polesel playing his circumspect boss, Vince, who wavers in his support of his mate

Recommended, Rachel Cliffe’s production of David Williamson’s ‘Brilliant Lies’ plays the Guild theatre, Rockdale until Saturday 28th August, 2010.