Roam

The internet is a mine for information with seemingly limitless powers of communication. But as anybody with a functioning connection will know, it is easy to get caught in the web.

In ROAM, Johnny (Tim Potter) falls prey to the dangerous side of the internet while escaping his already strained relationship with Julia. He descends into the addictive virtual world of the online game ROAM and forms a strangely sexual cyber relationship with a 13-year-old Estonian girl. He is progressively consumed by the interface to the demise of his real life and relationship, with an impressive projection display literally illustrating this throughout the performance.

Award-winning playwright Adam Cass has us at once laughing and on the edge of our seats with this fast-paced and highly believable play. The gaming lingo, creepy chat room situations and floundering relationship dynamics are all spot on, making us either admire his imagination and empathy or send him our concern.

Tim Potter is perfectly cast as the hopeless yet still somewhat affable Johnny, as are Ella Caldwell as the highly-strung Julia and Ngaire Dawn as the Lolita-like Estonian. They flit across the dramatic spectrum, covering romance, drama, comedy and even physical fight scenes during the 90-minute play.

It's not everyday we're able to enjoy gripping theatre alongside montages of internet porn and masturbating Chat Rouletters, but when in ROAM…