Agatha Christie meets The Office, but nastier
MELBOURNE FRINGE FESTIVAL
THEATRE
WRATH ★★★★
Broad Ranges Academic Theatre Society, Trades Hall, until September 22
Liam Maguire's Wrath features a marvellous cast, and for acting alone theatregoers (not to mention directors and talent scouts) should race to see it.
In this slashing and surreal satire of corporate culture, a gormless intern (Adam Sollis) arrives at company headquarters to find himself thrust headlong into a snake-pit of paranoia and vicious competitiveness.
Under the malign eye of CEO Ms Stockwood (Cece Peters), three tiers of management (Jonny Hawkins, Elle Mickel and Roy Joseph) bicker and buck-pass, arse-cover and vie for preferment in a sadistic environment that undermines everyone, save perhaps the CEO’s indispensable personal assistant (Lou Wall).
Hideous power-plays spiral into an absurd boardroom mystery: Ms Stockwood discovers damning evidence of a breach of decorum and professionalism in the office, and no one may leave until the culprit is found.
Directed and performed with exceptional pace and comic relish, this cruel, darkly hilarious lampoon of corporate life resembles a high-powered, nastier version of The Office, with shades of Agatha Christie and Artaud worked in.