Drama School: a play

‘Put a bunch of actors together in a room and see who cracks first.’

Written and directed by Alistair Ward, Drama School: a play teases out the oft-used trope of the narcissistic actor to craft a multi-layered story that is authentic, touching, nostalgic, and ultimately, uplifting. On stage at The MC Showroom in Prahran, the show offers an insight into the creative minds of aspiring actors: their aspirations, their fears, their insecurities, their dreams.

After debuting his People’s Choice Award-winning play twenty-something at the Melbourne Fringe Festival, Ward once again returns to his favourite backdrop (New York City) and sets the narrative around a group of students who attend one of the most prestigious acting schools in the world. Much of the drama plays out in their shared dorm – a pressure-cooker environment, perhaps? It is a place the septet recite lines, practise yoga, smoke a J, and share their innermost secrets.

The story spans a semester where each student feels a sense of dread for the exam they must undertake to stay on. In the beginning, we meet Jay (Bridget Webster), a student from Australia who got accepted to the school via a video submission, which stirs some rivalry between the group. The dorm houses the earnest Nick (Alistair Ward), the happy-go-lucky and wise Dean (Mo Mo), Riley (Ashleigh Coleman), the insufferable Sarah (Aimee Marich), confident and hilarious Carson (Sanj Bedi), and Ava (Brielle Ying), who abandoned her dreams of acting.

Tensions soon emerge. Riley is kicked out of the school and is forced to fend for herself in “the best city in the world”. Sarah’s relentlessness drives people away. Meanwhile, Carson goes from audition to audition, settling for a part with five lines or an Off-off-Broadway show about foot fetishes. While this all plays out, the crux of the story is Nick’s journey with anxiety and eventual panic attack and the budding romance between Jay and Riley.

The strength of the show lies within its nuance, its quiet scenes. For me, the two most powerful and raw scenes were in the scene Jay and Riley let down their defences and began to lean into their attraction to each other. Webster and Coleman were mesmerising, as was their natural chemistry. The other is the moments the friendship between Nick and Dean is on display. We see Nick rely on Dean. It is Dean who takes the time to support Nick.

The cast was terrific. A shoutout goes to Sanj Bedi for her bold and amusing aura, Mo Mo for his comedic delivery and Alistair Ward for his precision and talent in portraying a man struggling with mental health.

Drama School: a play succeeds as an ensemble play and delivers a punchy, entertaining and comical story that appeals to all.

The show is produced by Pansy Productions. The show is on stage until Sunday 6 February.

Drama School: a play
The MC Showroom, Level 1, 48 Clifton Street, Prahran, 3181
On stage until Sunday 6 February 2022
themcshowroom.com/whatson/drama-school-a-play