You Look Like Your Father

Kieran Gould-Dowen’s You Look Like Your Father is a complex, multi-generational melodrama that examines fatherhood in all its glory and horror. Based on a true story, the play spans 30 years of familial turmoil and is a commentary on how our parents’ decisions, mistakes and flaws can impinge on our own lives.

The ensemble cast are broken into two interweaving plot lines: one focusing on two fathers, Teddy and Dom, and their wives, Violet and Zara, and the other focusing on their respective sons, Zac and George, and Zac’s girlfriend, Lily. The show opens with Zac (Alex Lloyd) playing the piano in a living room when Lily (Mariska Murphy) and George (Alistair Ward) arrive – George has a knack for barging in without knocking – and the drama kicks in! Lily drops a bombshell: she is pregnant. Zac begins to question his fathering abilities, and while he vows to be a better father than his own, his worst nightmare is realised when he looks like him more and more. 

In the “father” arc, we see Ted (Shane Grubba) and Violet (Kerry Du Plessis) bring a newborn Zac home while heavily pregnant Zara (Emily Scerri) and Dom (Malith Jay) coo over the baby and congratulate the couple for creating a warm and loving home. Years go by and Ted and Violet’s marriage deteriorates. Ted neglects Violet emotionally and verges on the line of emotionally and sexually assaulting her. He also has an affair with Shazza and gets her pregnant. All in all, he’s a stand up guy. Zac is ultimately caught in a tug-of-war between his parents. Meanwhile, Dom battles with depression. A battle he unfortunately loses. 

Back in the “son” arc, Lily’s pregnancy progresses. The demons that plagued Zac and George’s parents damage the boys’ seemingly rock-solid friendship. Zac gives up his creative pursuits and lands a job at a call centre, but closes himself off from Lily. George calls him out on it. A physical altercation ensues, triggering Lily into false labour. 

The show poses the following questions: does history repeat itself? Is it possible to break the vicious cycle?

You Look Like Your Father is let down by its melodrama; after a while it all becomes a little too much. There are few light moments of the show where the characters are able to breathe. Some of the highlights include Mariska Murphy’s hilarious scene where she eats snow peas and makes the perfect tongue-in-cheek references – her timing is flawless! Since there was a lot of story to get through, the confrontation scenes felt almost soap opera-like and big moments felt a little rushed. 

What You Look Like Your Father does portray well is that hardships, internal struggles, relationship strains and breakdowns are all part of life, but as long as you are surrounded by loving and loyal friends and family, you can get through it all. 

You Look Like Your Father 
Chapel Off Chapel, 12 Little Chapel Street, Prahran, 3181
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