Look Back in Anger

The 60th Anniversary Production of Look Back in Anger has a message about being heard, about everybody finding a voice, and themes of love, class distinction and gender roles in society.

Look Back in Anger is considered the first of the Kitchen Sink dramas. A characteristic of Kitchen Sink dramas is the way they advanced a particular social message or leftist ideology, usually within a working class setting. Also a first is the use of the term ‘angry young man’, coined about John Osbourne, the playwright, who was part of the generation post war angry about the fall of the British Empire.

“There was nothing like Look Back in Anger in the theatre before, it was the first time for a play that was so raw. It was wrong for people to show how they were feeling, you had to hold back your feelings and be proper about it. It was a very loud point of view, hard hitting realism during a time there were a lot of comedies and silly musicals,” explained Melissa Bonne, who plays Alison.

Because of the times it was written (1956), even if they had an education the working class in Britain weren’t given the same privileges that the upper class had. There was a lot of anger about not having access to certain jobs, for example, because of their background. There was a ridiculous gap between the classes.

“It’s a bit horrifying in parts, it gets ugly and awful, very in your face and confronting, emotionally intense but there’s bits that are light and funny so it’s not all doom and gloom. The language Osbourne uses and the imagery is so strong, really capturing each character’s point of view of the world and of each other. It is written deeply and authentically to reveal human spirit as opposed to a plot driven piece,” concluded Bonne. (MS)

Until Sep 10*; Tue-Sat 7.30pm, Sun 5pm. Old Fitz Theatre, 129 Dowling Street, cnr Cathedral Street. $28-$38. Tickets & info: www.oldfitztheatre.com

*Extension season at Belvoir’s Downstairs Theatre 13-17 September (Tickets not yet on sale).

BY MEL SOMERVILLE