A major typhoon has hit the Philippines. Michelle, (played by the charming and funny Chrissy Mae Valentine), a Manila local Project Officer for her NGO (Non Government Organisation), is now working on her first international assignment due to the severity of the typhoon.
Michelle has a best friend, Janna, (played with vivacious energy by Chaye Mogg), who visits her constantly, helps out in her own way, but essentially is obsessed with sharing her Tinder finds, including “a flood of white dudes right now. Blonde, blonde, blue eyes, hazel eyes..”
Michelle is impressed by Joe Logges, her new boss of the AID relief company SAVIOR, (played by Michael Whalley with cheeky narcissism). Michelle’s boss, J.E.S.U.S. Her Joint Emergency Systems and Uplift Strategist, – is the prophet in disguise and expert at crisis mapping. There are plenty of visual gags, wonderful references; walking on water, on the cross accidental imagery and many more thrown in here and there.
The fourth character is Jobert (played endearingly by Mark Paguio). Jobert is the ‘hands-on’ ‘hands-out’ man – feeding the masses. Under pressure and underpaid. He is SAVIOR’s field officer. He is warm and funny and gets more serious about the truth as the play goes on.
Playwright Happy Feraren has a background in the Philippines in Comedic Improvisation. She also spent time in the NGO industry after helping out on the disastrous 2013 Typhoon Yolanda. She is now a prominent comedian in Sydney.
With her previous experience, she has been able to both analyse and satirise the NGO in her first full length play. She has great potential for a future in playwriting. She has tackled a lot in the 85 minutes that is SAVIOR. The balance of humour and truth is the essence of the play.
Director Kenneth Moraleda is a prolific writer, actor and director. He has done a great job with the fast pace of the play, the humour (the male actors play mini cameos for the Tinder characters which works very well). And the serious theme of the play – relief work.
The crew are extremely competent. An efficient and clever set by Hailley Hunt. Great lighting by Brockman, and smooth sound design by Dobby.
SAVIOR is an enjoyable piece of theatre. It’s based on real events, but is also full of satire and fun.
SAVIOR, for the Griffin Theatre Company, plays downstairs at the Belvoir Street Theatre, Surry Hills, until Sunday, 14th June, 2026.
