Punk rock meets TikTok in a new play, The Bridge, at the KXT Theatre on Broadway. The music is loud, the emotions are amplified and the narrative has complex rhythms. Amber was going to be the next big thing in Australia’s punk rock scene in the nineties. She was going to be the local answer to Courtney. Present day TikTok performer Alyssa has sings and dances to Amber’s obscure but important song, Medea’s Curse, but Amber takes offence and engages in an online slanging match.
The play opens in a graffiti covered, black walled performance space. The audience sees guitars, posters, mic stand, and rolling utility cases and hears guitars thrashed, punk drum beats and vocals. You are taken back to the grungy days of the Trade Union Club or the Graphic Arts Club, and when Amber is swearing, drinking and being abusive it conjures that era brilliantly. The slick, pouty videos Alyssa creates in her bedroom are a different world and a stark contrast from the unglamorous punk scene.
The play explores many interesting ideas, exploring the creative process, performance and the meaning behind the material. The demands and motivations of the managers, promoters and the music industry are considered. Being a creative person in the internet age is shown as significantly different from the punk rock era. The fans also have a different experience, commenting and responding online.
The legend of Medea and the choices that women have to make are woven together in thoughtful and intelligent ways in a substantial and critical component of the play. The exploitation of females in the music industry is notorious, both historically and in the present day. The Bridge examines the repulsive and unscupulous (mostly male) managers, music executives, and television personalities and ridicules and denounces these people and their behaviours.
Writers Sunny Grace, Clare Hennessy and Richie Black have packed a lot into The Bridge’s ninety five minute run time. Director Lucinda Gleeson makes you feel like you are at a concert, in the audience, backstage being entertained and amused. It is a thoughtful and insightful look at the punk era, the TikTok phenomena, Greek mythology, the choices for female performers, and the creative process. The performances of Zoe Carides as Amber and Clare Hennessy as Alyssa are wonderful. They are ably supported by actors Saro Lepejian, Andrea Magpulong, Brendan Miles and Matt Abotomey. Lighting and AV designer is by Aron Murray, set and costume designer by Kate Beere, sound designer by Rowan Yeomans and Elke, with original music by Zoe Carides and Clare Hennessy. The stage manager is Radhika Lal and stills photography by Ravyna Jassani.
The Bridge is running at KXT Broadway until 13th September and is highly recommended.
Really enjoyed this one!
Agree – get to this one!