twenty-something

As I edge toward the scary milestone of 30 bathed in a volatile mix of trepidation, dread and excitement, Alistair Ward’s twenty-something felt suitably fitting. Written and directed for the Melbourne Fringe Festival, the show explores the everyday friendship struggles, commitment issues and that eternal pursuit of happiness.

Told from the perspective of a gay, cis, white male, the 50-minute show focuses on two best friends. Thomas (Alistair Ward) is gay. Josh (Matt Bertram) is straight. After four years of working and living a cosmopolitan life in New York City, Thomas returns to Melbourne to try and piece his life together. He is unemployed. His days are filled with auditions. He lives back at home with his parents. He craves a genuine human connection – a spark, for lack of a better word.

While all this is going on, Thomas and Josh’s friendship begins to fray as Josh grapples with his deteriorating relationship. twenty-something fails to deliver on this aspect. We never really work out what Josh is battling. Is he questioning his sexuality? Or is he really just done with the friendship? The open-ended thread provided some after-show fodder.

Pencilled as a cross between Please Like Me and Insecure, Alistair Ward masterfully captures the thoughts that many people face as they decide what’s important, who they want to be, or who matters in their life. Entertaining, comical and whole-heartedly resonant, twenty-something is a semi-autobiographical, semi-coming-of-age, queer tale that left us asking for the next chapter.

twenty-something played at Hares and Hyenas, Hare Hole, 12–14 September 2019.

twenty-something
Melbourne Fringe Festival 2019
melbournefringe.com.au/event/twenty-something