Become the One

It’s the final siren at the ‘G. Four quarters of rough and nail-biting footy have been played in front of vociferous fans numbered in the tens of thousands. The victors celebrate their win and the post-game clubroom celebration becomes a breeding ground for reaffirming hyper-masculine and heteronormative notions of camaraderie. Is there a place in modern AFL to bend the mould? Can gender or sexual fluidity exist in such an environment? Well, Become the One asks that question in a brilliantly entertaining show.

Part of the 2019 Midsumma Festival, Become the One is a modern-day story told through the trials and triumphs of Tom and Noah’s relationship. Tom (Chris Asimos) is a celebrated AFL great nearing the end of his career and Noah (Henry Strand) is a vibrant, outspoken and effervescent twenty-something finding his feet. Sparks immediately fly when Noah arrives at Tom’s apartment, ready to scrub, polish and clean. Ever the inquisitor, Noah pries in Tom’s life, and despite adverse inclinations, his attraction for Tom grows. With sexual tension at an all-time high, Tom makes a move and (surprisingly) misses the mark. However, before long, the pair embark on a secret affair.

In some ways, the consequences of their unconventional and hidden relationship emerge as a sort of character Tom and Noah wrestle with as issues crop up: Noah only receiving a regular membership which doesn’t entitle him to sit with partners and families of players; Noah not attending the Brownlow arm-in-arm with his lover; Tom panicking after being spotted with Noah in public.

Written by playwright Adam Fawcett, the performance’s compelling and fast-paced dialogue and the use of short scenes really keep up the momentum and energy on the stage. The chemistry between Asimos and Strand is a delight to watch, and they successfully pull you into their world. On paper, Tom and Noah are two distinct characters – opposite in nature – and part of the fun is watching their similarities emerge and their dependency for one another flourish. Noah’s character was very entertaining and carried out many of the perfectly timed punchlines. His take on the AFL Pride Round was especially hilarious.

In 2018, there were almost 800 players on AFL club lists. According to Fawcett, ‘the idea that none of them identify as something other than exclusively heterosexual is an absurd one’. In this vein, Become the One also becomes a siren, a call-out, for someone to take the plunge and become the one who is open, honest and comfortable in their laced footy boots and their strapped-up appendages.

Tom admits he doesn’t want to be that figure, but can Noah convince him to be the one to risk it all in the name of love?

Become the One
Till Saturday, 9 February 2019
Gasworks Theatre, 21 Graham Street, Albert Park
gasworks.org.au/event/become-the-one

Pictures: Jodie Hutchinson