Dirty People

Dirty People may speak some harsh truths to any Gen Y members sitting in the audience. It’s bad enough hearing our parents say we are self-centred, entitled narcissists with our noses pressed up to our phone screens 23 hours a day – but it stings even more when it’s coming from one of our own.

Writer, actor and not-so-proud Gen Y member Charlie Falkner has brought these issues to light on stage in a play inspired by a torturous weekend of dog-sitting. “I realised after completing the final draft that I had named [the main characters] after two…difficult dogs that I had the pleasure of looking after for a weekend,” said Falkner.

Part-time scam artists and part-time no-hopers, James and Lucy find themselves amid a scene of chaos as a night in a dingy dive bar unravels into near-murder. The more we learn about their story, the dirtier it gets.

This duo reflects our generation’s trademark bad personalities – “self-obsessed, neurotic and entitled”. Charlie, who also plays James, wrote the character with the worst parts of his personality in mind and is glad to be able to play it exactly as he wanted. “It was hard letting go of the script initially and letting [the director] push it in a different way but… it’s so much better now.”

Dirty People is more than an exercise in self-awareness; it is a snapshot of our generation. Switch your phone to silent and enjoy a night of “spitting, drinking and hopefully some comedy”. (CB)

May 4–8, Wed–Sat 8pm, Sun 5pm. The Depot Theatre, 142 Addison Road, Marrickville. $22-$32. Tickets & info: thedepottheatre.com

 

BY CAITLIN BURNS

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