“It was a school anti-bullying program that became a lightning rod for culture warriors and conservative MP’s – Safe Schools was either protecting gay kids from bullies or trying to sell Marxism in the playground, depending on who was talking”
Michael Koziol – Artists Push PM for Diluted Safe Schools SMH 2/5/2017

The Safe Schools program was a “tinder box” so Australian artists like Missy Higgins, Guy Pearce and Joel Creasey are pushing the government for a modified version that promotes a simple, benign message – tolerance.

It’s gratifying when we see well-known artists stepping up to put their status and integrity behind worthy causes and public debate and seeing these stories and experiences become material for their own work.

No doubt Joel Creasey, who is originally from Newcastle incidentally, has some wonderful biting satirical reflections on how being “different” from others impacted on his time at school.

For that is part of what artists do. They observe, reflect on and respond to the social and political world around them and hold the mirror up to society in a manner that is engaging, entertaining and thought provoking. Frequently their own personal experiences are part of that reflection.

It’s an important job! Don’t let any Science, Engineering or Mathematics Degree wielding pedagogue tell you otherwise.

Ecelctic Productions DO YOUR PARENTS KNOW YOU’RE STRAIGHT writer and director Riley McLean openly admits “…so much of me has ended up on the page” even naming one of the main characters Riley. Assistant Director, Cassie Hamilton, presumably brings the same level of personal experience to the production.

Further developed from a class exercise during Riley’s studies at the Regional Institute of Performing Arts Diploma in Acting course whereby the students had to write a ten minute play, this two act full length production firmly takes the DYPKYS debate by the horns and gives it a good shake in a way that is complex, challenging and dramatically clever.

Casey (Jack Twelvetree) lives in a gay world where ‘normal’ is for everyone to have either two dads or two mums and to be straight or a “breeder” is cause for horror and social isolation. Girls like girls and boys like boys. That’s the way it is.

His best friend, Jamie (Joseph McHugh), is expected by all, including Casey’s dads, to become Casey’s boyfriend, but Casey is secretly smitten by a girl on the bus that he calls Willow (Grace Hughes).

To further complicate things, Casey wants to be a writer. In this world, writing is a risky career. “Go on Broadway, that’s where the money is!” He is writing a story of a girl named Riley (Alexandra Jensen) who is gay in a straight world and who has also fallen for Willow. Riley is Casey in a straight world.

This is where the curve ball comes in. This world that Casey is writing becomes real for us as well and is enacted in parallel and contrast as we not only jump from Casey to Riley but also see the two constantly interacting about their dilemmas and relationship battles. They talk, and at times don’t. It’s an interesting porthole into the world of a writer.

In both worlds 12 year old little sister Caitlyn (Parisse Lattimore) acts as a faithful sibling, open and free from the prejudice infecting the others.

There are Absurdist influences like Stoppard and even some Greek Tragedy choral work thrown in but this hybrid approach works well for a new play about a contemporary and timely theme.

As the young playwright of DO YOUR PARENTS KNOW YOU’RE STRAIGHT? Riley McLean walks the cliff edge of teenage angst at times but manages to avoid the fall. She comes dangerously close at times with references to stars in the galaxy and every star being different and special, but pulls us back from the edge with a well timed joke and an acknowledgement of the cliché. It’s clever.

We are taken on a strong emotional journey and there are some powerful moments of real raw emotion as well as humour and even loving digs at stereotypes on both sides of the coin as the themes of coming out to family and friends, betrayal, preconceived notions and prejudice are explored.

It’s surprisingly powerful. When Casey finally presents his Riley story to others, including his initially supportive writing teacher at school, their responses are punches in the gut full of betrayal and hate.

Eclectic Productions is a young company and the cast and crew range from teenagers to young adults and they have combined their talents to create a production that works. There are a lot of short scenes and changes in time and place so you have to keep up, but the lighting (Lyndon Buckley) and super functional set (Lyndon Buckley and Riley McLean) as well as effective contrast in tone and pace and a good soundtrack was enough to maintain audience engagement.

Look for the real goldfish in a tank on one part of the set!

The leads are excellent; Jack Twelvetree as Casey and Alexandra Jensen as Riley give quicksilver performances and Parisse Lattimore as Caitlyn is deceptively charismatic and talented.

Christopher Henderson is powerful as the Dad in both worlds and Taylor Reece as Miss Jenkins his teacher, as well as the Mum in Riley’s world, brought a mature understanding to her roles beyond her years.

The other nine members of the ensemble energetically and consistently created moments of truth, humour and fun as well as pathos, teenage boredom and disdain. There’s never a dull moment.

It’s exciting to see young people developing and staging their own work and this company is well on its way to carving a niche in the Newcastle theatre scene.

Final performances of DO YOUR PARENTS KNOW YOU’RE STRAIGHT? at the Civic Playhouse, 375 Hunter Street, Newcastle are:-
Friday 5th May 7:00 pm
Saturday 6th May 2:00 pm
Saturday 6th May 7:00 pm