Review by Julie-Anna Evans
A bold exploration of familial dysfunction and societal pressures, YOU CAN DO IT! [Follow Your Dreams] serves as a striking commentary on mental health and the pursuit of success.
Easy Killer Productions presents this thought-provoking work at the Motley Bauhaus as part of this year’s Melbourne Fringe Festival. The show blurb touts pitch-black comedy, and it certainly does not disappoint. This is a new work written by Simon Patrick Berman, who also directs the production.
Set in the suburban home of a working-class family, the story unfolds during a family dinner where the main topic becomes the youngest son, Billy’s, inability to kill himself. Billy's failed suicide attempt elicits a plethora of misguided advice and guidance from his family members on follow-through and making something of himself. ‘I just want him to succeed at something, anything!’ expresses Billy's mother, Ruth.
Themes of suicide and frayed mental health collide within familial dynamics, highlighting the value placed on external success in an age where everything is considered content. The show does not shy away from the darker sides of these sensitive subjects, lending a unique perspective on suicidal ideation that Berman expertly marries with our desire for ‘success’ at all costs.
The minimal set design, punctuated by an extravagantly overachieving trophy cabinet, effectively encapsulates the confines of the characters’ lives. The venue contributes to a confined atmosphere that enhances audience empathy for Billy and his overwhelming desire to escape both his family and his reality.
The ensemble of five actors meshes superbly, creating a tight-knit unit that thrives under Berman's skillful direction.
Ben Keller plays Billy with a beautifully delicate execution, bringing a naturalistic, filmic quality to the performance. This makes him stand out; he feels as if he belongs in a BBC drama, while the other actors are in an '80s sitcom. This juxtaposition works exceptionally well in isolating him as an anomaly within the family unit, serving as the story's central cog.
Josh Waldhorn portrays the disappointed dad with genuine conviction and gusto. There is a palpable jovial yet hostile energy in this performance that electrifies and terrifies the audience simultaneously.
Rebecca Howell, as Ruth, the mother, is captivating. Without much dialogue, her non-verbal performance is sublime; there is power in her stillness during chaotic moments, serving as an anchor for the piece
Emily Farrell plays Billy's overachieving sister, Fleur, crafting a buoyant, bitchy, and brilliant character—think "Mean Girls" meets Kym Craig, née Day. She’s the big sis you never want to upstage, and her character is someone you’d follow on Instagram without hesitation!
Blair Allen is spectacular as Thad, Fleur's boyfriend. Presenting as a very bad boy Ken doll, he has the audience eating out of the palm of his hand from the moment he walks on stage. With each flex of a bicep, we fall deeper under his spell. He somehow makes this homophobic jock seem likable, and by the end of the play, we all want him to take us under his wing
The performances are delivered with a heightened, almost cartoonish style that cleverly juxtaposes the serious subject matter at hand. The shocking humor and confronting actions create a voyeuristic experience, highlighting society's incessant need for external validation by documenting every aspect of life on social media.
YOU CAN DO IT! [Follow Your Dreams] is undoubtedly a standout in this year's festival. This is the type of writing we need to see more of on main stages; it's a sucker punch in the face that shakes us out of complacent theater. It’s an invitation to reflect deeply on our own definitions of success—sometimes with tragic costs attached.
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