Broke and Fabulous in the 21st Century | Etcetera Theatre

Broke and Fabulous in the 21st Century, which is written and directed by Dale Robertson, is a raunchy and relatable show about being young, passionate and a dreamer whilst coping with reality. As the title suggests, the play is fabulous on all fronts, with characters that are memorable and highly entertaining, yet it's the core themes of friendship, love and vulnerability that allow the show to leave a lasting impact. 

Alex (Robertson) lives alone in an old theatre, struggling to make ends meet and yet finds the silver lining in his bleak situation. A recent casual relationship with Tom (Rowland Stirling) allows Alex to finally find himself on the threshold of love, despite his resistance to it. Alex's best friend Petunia (Olive McHugh) comes crashing back into his life, and accommodation, following an argument with her partner. In a whirlwind of dramatics, Petunia's woes and rants about her boyfriend and the crushing reality of trying to make ends meet whilst still being an artist make up the crux of the play. 

Robertson has created a show that knows exactly what it is and caters to its specific audience. Robertson's play is unexpected, unpredictable and uncensored, with a script that is seeped in blunt honesty. Robertson doesn't shy away from diving deep into intrusive and personal thoughts that are relatable, even if they aren't always socially acceptable to share. Robertson's writing also presents each of the characters as flawed human beings, that exist as their own entities rather than as winning personalities. 

The play is underscored by heavy laughter at the end of nearly every line, often even drowning out the actors. Robertson, who is also the director, has ensured that every moment on stage earns its place with an entertaining tone wafting over the piece as a whole. Robertson's script, whilst already brilliant, is taken to new heights of success through the performances of the three performers. 

Stirling immediately is both demanding and captivating as Alex's sexual partner. Stirling, quite literally, proves his dominance in an instant, with a steely and yet sensual performance that heats up the tiny theatre in a split second. Whilst some of the sex talk may come across as slightly cringey (particularly the over use of "Daddy" and "Big Man"), Stirling's performance will have the audience in rapt attention regardless. Stirling also handles the more emotional and softer side of Tom well with a festering sensitivity.

Robertson as Alex is cheeky and charming in his own right, with his unwavering optimistic approach, a refreshing choice for a protagonist. Robertson leans into the stereotype of a queer, young artist and in turn brings a warmth to the character. Robertson proves his comedic ability when partnered with McHugh in a side splittingly funny moment of panic to guide her through a rough patch. Robertson also handles the cutting fragility, as he shares his own fears and insecurities, demonstrating himself to be a highly capable performer. 

McHugh is a formidable presence as Petunia, truly becoming a storm on stage. McHugh amusingly steals the spotlight from Robertson (as Petunia does Alex) as she claims being the main character, venting about her own grievances. Whilst the character's long winded rambles may be insufferable if it were real, McHugh does an excellent job as Petunia. McHugh's posh, stroppy and frantic manner makes every line of dialogue echo throughout the intimate space, as audiences are howling with laughter at her every choice. Petunia unexpectedly finds herself both drunk and stoned,and McHugh's subtle transition to sweaty, unfocused and slurred words was very impressive to watch. 

The set is both fabulously stylish and also reveals just how broke Alex truly is. The large mattress on the floor with clothes strewn about and lights that aren't currently working is well contrasted with the blindingly bright vanity mirror, assorted knick knacks, and gorgeous wooden furniture. Old framed paintings are propped up around the stage, a reminder of the theatre's history. As audiences first enter the room, Robertson is also laid out on the mattress, lost in his own world and tending to his hair and the entire moment feels as though a vintage painting were replicated on stage. 

Roxanne lvy Roberts' costume design adds a layer of provocativeness to the piece, most notably in Petunia's hidden lingerie. Her fluffy black fur coat and matching accessories as she strives to present herself as fancy and rich do a great job at revealing character intention. Jojo Willa Jest's sound design is clever with phone call voice overs that are blatantly muffled gibberish, or extracts of the news that help contextualise the character's fears. Anatasiia Todchuck's lighting design highlights the difference between the reality of Alex and Petunia's lives and the glowing vanity mirror as they envision a brighter future. 

Romain Mereau's intimacy direction ensures that the sex scenes feel heated and passionate, yet never become graphic. Mereau manages to play with the intensity without much intimacy and yet the audience still feel almost voyeuristic as Alex and Tom discover a new side to themselves. 

The play, though well-written with well developed character arcs and relationships falters slightly towards the end. Robertson has earnestly opted to reiterate the importance of positive thinking and being hopeful, yet this can feel a little preachy at times especially when the characters start debating philosophy quotes. It's a lovely sentiment, ultimately, yet loses a little of it's subtly. 

Robertson has created a show that allows a younger demographic to find themselves in these characters and their situations, and take comfort in them. A beautiful reminder that humans are messy and that's what makes everyone special and that they deserve unconditional love and support. The relationship between Alex and Petunia, though at times unbalanced, is ultimately a heartwarming relationship of two people who refuse to give up on one another and creates a beautiful space to connect. 

★★★★☆ (4*)

Gifted tickets in return for an honest review