Last Friday I had the opportunity to appreciate and enjoy the play BAD MACHINE written by Brooke Robinson and directed by Lily Balatincz.
A mobile scenery that adapts very well to the different locations that the work transmits to us, an excellent audio-visual composition projected on stage creating a unique environment for the viewer.
The play begins with a dialogue between two law students discussing politics, the system of government and that they are both on a scholarship, one of them sponsored by Centrelink’s Austudy.
As the play progresses, we see Abbie Lee Lewis playing the role of Eve and Lily Balatincz replacing Rob Johnson in the role of Oliver. it was very well done. Unfortunately, Rob was unable to be in the play that day due to illness and director Lily Balatincz stepped in to play the role of Olivia.
Gail Knight as May and George Spartels as Theo were a central point in the work, their characterizations were so successful that the viewer was left waiting for the story from beginning to end.
With the versatility the actors were creating environments where the stories were produced. I was really fascinated by the staging. It is a very well achieved teamwork where you first feel a good direction, lighting/Video Designer and Sound Designer/Composers that helped in an extraordinary way to work.
BAD MACHINE contains 21 scenes showing that some of the most vulnerable members of society were affected using artificial intelligence through an automated auditing system with devastating results. Described as ‘extortion’ by the highest member of the Australian government’s court of review, the program issued more than 400,000 computer-generated debt notices demanding payment from Centrelink users, many of whom did not owe the government any money.
BAD MACHINE prompts audiences to question the idea of blame, the standards we set for our leaders, and what’s at stake when we give up compassion.
The play has been commissioned by Campbelltown Art Centre and co-presented by Campbelltown Arts Centre and Casula Power Arts Centre with the following cast:
BAD MACHINE played the Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre on the 18th and 19th March 2022.