Hate

Hate explores the family dynamic of powerful businessman and politician John Gleason (William Zappa). It centres on a rare weekend where his wife and three children have travelled to the family estate at his behest. With contact to the outside world becoming increasingly cut off due to rising flood waters, each family member is pitted against the other in a narrative of betrayal, manipulation and endless amounts of alcohol.

While performances are solid, especially from Grant Piro, who plays the ambitious middle child Raymond Gleason, over the play's two-and-a-half-hour length one struggles to see any of the characters develop past the narrative of a family broken by a lust for power. While real tension and conflict is created between cast members at times, the storyline becomes repetitive and as a whole the play itself is rather uninteresting.

Moreover, one can't help but wonder if the play's “groundbreaking” insights all haven't been seen before, 25 years ago in fact (this is a remount). Set and costume designer Dayna Morrissey and lighting designer Paul Jackson have both done excellent jobs creating a space unique and visually interesting. However, this play is only mildly appealing in an anachronistic sense and as an insight into modern Australia, it is sadly lacking.

Malthouse Theatre to Friday 8 March