Matt Hickey. Image by Lachlan Woods.
The historical response to HIV/AIDS is one coloured with confusion and stigma. Since the epidemic’s global rise in the 1980s it has claimed the lives of more than 36 million people. The powerful stories presented in The Status Consortium’s production Status aim to humanise the experiences of those affected by the disease and enlighten those in the dark.
The play presents a collage of bared, personal narratives, which are as varied as they are insightful. The real life stories of people affected by HIV/AIDS were recorded through interviews and then transcribed into a dramatic script for the play’s actors to perform.
The minimalist nature of the performance ensures that the voices command the audience’s complete attention. The venue is small and intimate, so it feels as though each character is relaying their story directly to you in casual conversation. Aside from a few props and the use of faint music to segue between stories, the play’s production elements are almost non-existent. It becomes clear that the performance is about the stories, free from embellishment or distraction.
When the lights first dim, the audience hear snippets of dialogue from the many stories used in the performance. Some of these musings are supportive of HIV+ people, some stigmatise them, and some are unsure of how to feel about the disease. This collection of conflicting voices suggests the need for a more informed society, and establishes the purpose of the play.
The stories themselves are diverse and range in tone. There are emotionally heavy tales recounted, such as one about an unknowing 20-year-old woman (Brigid Gallacher) finding out that she tested positive for the virus after donating blood. But these are balanced effectively with lighter anecdotes, such as one about a man dying of AIDS who fussily spent an entire day selecting what photos would be shown at his own funeral.
At one point, a young man (Matt Hickey) describes being met with shock-horror after telling his date that he was positive. As though thinking out loud, he nervously assures himself that hundreds of HIV+ people must have been through similar experiences. It is in this moment that both the truth and fiction in his thoughts are made clear. An invisible network of people around the world are certainly able to help and share in his experiences, but each story is a journey unique to the individual, made apparent by the stories presented to the audience.
Both men and women are represented evenly in the performance, however the diversity ends there. Despite high rates of infection being common among these groups, the voices of sex workers were left out, and drug use was only mentioned briefly.
Status is an important portrait of HIV/AIDS and the many ways it affects individuals. The minimalism in the performance allows for the voices to stand out, and knowing that each story stems from a real-life narrative provides the performance with added emotional weight. At a short 65 minutes, the play easily maintains the audience’s engagement.
Rating: 3 ½ out of 5 stars
Status
Director: Cameron Menzies
Cast: Kath Gordon, Matt Hickey, Will Conyers, and Brigid Gallacher
Fairfax Studio, Arts Centre Melbourne
www.artscentremelbourne.com.au
23 – 26 July
