The Beast
If you have ever sat around the table on Christmas day, shaking your head as your newly vegetarian cousin downs a dozen prawns while your tree-hugging sister is inside blasting the air-conditioning, then Eddie Perfect’s new play, The Beast, is for you.
Inspired by Perfect’s own tree-change to Hillsville in the Yarra Valley, it exposes this kind of middle class hypocrisy in the setting of a nose-to-tail dinner party.
Based on real events, a group of idealistic foodies get their hands on an Angus calf for a butcher to slaughter and turn into dinner. When things don’t go to plan, the audience will see how far short these people fall from their lofty ideals.
The play, written by and starring Perfect, is in his words about “the inconsistencies we live with day-to-day, and how we justify [them] in our head”.
The absurdist style of comedy also lends itself well to bringing out the inner villain in each character. Don’t be surprised when you find it hard to see anything likeable in these characters. Perfect puts it best by gleefully reminding us that “people behaving badly is entertaining”. (CB)
Jul 27–Aug 14, various show times. The Drama Theatre, Sydney Opera House. $89.90-$139.90. Tickets & info: thebeastplay.com
BY CAITLIN BURNS
