What if Archduke Ferdinand's driver hadn't taken a wrong turn? What if Hitler had been accepted into art school and hadn't the need to pursue an alternative career? Greatness Thrust Upon Them considers the effect random acts can have on history, in this case at a fictitious UN environment conference held in Melbourne. Robin, the Australian PM's Press-Secretary-for-a-day, is a firm believer in the effectiveness of the current political system. While trying to get wireless coverage on his laptop, he meets Megan, a young cynic, providing technical support at said conference. She reckons it's a talkfest. He reckons its progress.
I was completely convinced by the performances of Chris Buchanan, Julia Harari and Miriam Glaser. It would be unfair to single one of them out for extra compliments, as all three were spot on, but Julia’s costume of romper suit and knee socks does deserve particular attention.
Lorin Clarke's script sparkles. Her dialogue glitters with a generous sprinkling of wit and pop references but still feels like real dialogue. She pokes fun at the oft ridiculous world of events management from the tedious minutiae to those major upsets like the environmentally sound toilets being incompatible with the environmentally sound toilet paper. I found the play utterly absorbing and Clarke is definitely one to look out for.
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