The Events

The Events, from Scottish dramatist David Greig, is grim. Catherine McClements — recently seen as Tess Du Pont in the ABC's The Beautiful Lie — plays Anglican minister Claire. Genial, progressive and inclusive, she hosts a multicultural choir — "one big crazy tribe". Yet they're targeted by a disgruntled white male adolescent shooter (Johnny Carr). He's only ever referred to as "The Boy", being a cipher.

As survivor, Claire needs to understand why he did it, testing her faith and relationship with life partner Katrina. Weighing in are various associates, authorities and randoms — all, confusingly, enacted by Carr. Claire's therapist says the killer is not "evil" but "empathy-impaired". The Boy himself rants/chants, "I kill to protect my tribe from softness."

This production, with Clare Watson's direction, features rotating community choirs both performing and serving as a Greek chorus (tonight it's Expressive Women with Shaking the Tree). The Boy's 'music' is... rave — so much for PLUR (peace, love, unity, respect).

Greig wrote The Events in response to 2011's Norwegian massacre by white supremacist Anders Breivik. The play is obviously painfully topical following the atrocity at Orlando's Pulse nightclub. Alas, Greig's well meaning, if occasionally sardonic, work ultimately becomes just another scrambled (meta-)commentary. But McClements shines — as do the choristers.