PERTH FEST REVIEW: Whistleblower is a 'truly once-in-a-lifetime experience'
It might be cliché to say something needs to be ‘seen to be believed’, but in the case of Whistleblower, you really do just have to see it. By its very definition, this is a play that will be like nothing else you’ve ever seen- it’s built into its DNA.
Whitsleblower is the latest effort from the ambitious Perth theatre company The Last Great Hunt, a troupe that always meet audacious ideas with miraculous execution; take the last time TLGH teamed up with Perth Fest, LÉ NØR, in which the company invented their own language to create something that lay between a play and movie. While dealing with lofty concepts, they never let them become mere gimmicks but rather tools to create a unique experience and tell interesting stories.
(Photos by Daniel James Grant)
Whitsleblower takes this creative streak to a new level by bringing the audience along for the ride. The star of the show each night is drawn from the audience themselves, with their actions leading to different outcomes each night. Without revealing too many plot-points, the story involves uncovering a conspiracy, with a colourful cast of actors helping or hindering along the way, again including some audience members. The end result is something like watching an escape room on stage, only much more dramatic.
Beyond the intriguing concept, all the other elements of the show were masterfully realised. The live lighting and music design (which was done on stage) interacted perfectly with the unfolding drama, while special effects were used to great effect to draw you into the story. The superb improvisational skills of the cast are sure to rescue the play from any instances where the chosen audience member might not be up to scratch (which, for the record, did not happen on the night I attended – the main character produced some of the best content of the night). Finally, the stage design was spectacular- because the play unfolds differently depending on the main character’s choices, the production had to create sets that could be moved and changed. Despite this potential obstacle, each consecutive set was immaculately designed and revealed new intricate details, aiding the world-building efforts.
Whistleblower is, unsurprisingly, very close to selling out all its showings, so be quick to nab up any leftover tickets for a truly once-in-a-lifetime experience.