Poster Girl, the new play by controversial playwright Van Badham currently playing at the Old Fitzroy theatre, is likely to generate some healthy debate! In Poster Girl Van Badham plays out her dreamscape of what would happen if one of today’s indulgent, egocentric pop celebrities, akin to Paris Hilton were be kidnapped and held to ransom, by a bumbling, and less than deadly, revolutionary group, As a starting point for her work, the playwright used the circumstances surrounding the infamous Patty Hearst kidnapping in America.
Shannon Dooley plays the poster girl, Mandy Xyloine, a celebutante heiress, who is kidnapped by members from the ultra left-wing Army of Revolutionary Struggle (ARS), When it dawns on her that her multi-millionaire businessman father Walter isn’t going to part with the ransom money she decides to share some of her media savvy expertise, giving her captors lessons in media manipulation, and in getting their message across.
Van Badham’s contemporary satire makes for bold, entertaining theatre. There was just so much happening on stage from the protestations of spoilt rich girl/woman Mandy, to the incompetence and political ramblings of the ARS, to the desperation of the journalists to get their Mindy scoop, to the Detective in charge enjoying his time in the public spotlight,
Director James Beach brought together a talented ensemble cast to bring Van Badham’s hip, edgy take on the cult of celebrity to life. 2007 NIDA graduate Shannon Dooley’s strong performance as Mandy Xyloine was the play’s centerpiece. Her poster girl was crass, childish, ego-centric, but with plenty of smarts. The scene where she commanders a video grab of her with her captors for general release was dark but rich comedy.
Actress Susie Lindeman), best known for her extensive work in film (‘Howard’s End’, ‘Lilian’s Story’), was in fine form as the driven, flirtatious journalist Rowena Marshall-Toxteth. Sam Haft, of the formerly London based Jewish acting family, (Lionel Haft is his father), impressed as the rough hewn journalist Rob Brough. Andrew Lewis did some good work, in a good role, as Leon, the softie from the radical Army, who falls big time for Mindy.
The intimate nature of the venue suited the play, and gave the play the immediacy it needed. Beach, with his set designer, Phillipa Welfare, made full, creative use of the space, The actors spread out during the play, using the upstairs platform, the audience entry, as well as the middle aisle between the two audience platforms.
Poster Girl is playing the Old Fitzroy theatre, 129 Dowling Street, Woolloomooloo until July 12.