Boys, Wake Up! places a sharp focus on the harm caused by alcohol/waipiro in this thought-provoking and emotionally confronting tragedy. There’s a stark warning for all teenagers in playwright Jackson Burling’s exploration of toxic masculinity in the binge drinking culture and the cost of not speaking up until it’s too late.  

The show opens with a bare black-box stage illuminated by a single spot which directs our attention to a rambling voice-over which initially seems like a bad housekeeping message until we hear the words, “if he was here” and we realise we are at a funeral. 

Time regresses as into this sombre opening burst four young men, all drunk, partying hard and boasting of their sexual prowess: Jamie (Jackson Burling) Ezra (Renata Mahuika), Cameron (Caleb Pedro), and Bradley (Isaac Andrews).

Post-party and driving home, their vehicle crashes and plunges down a steep mountainside. With no cell phone coverage, the boys elect to stay together rather than go and seek help. To keep their spirits up they play guessing games, share stories while tensions rise as home truths emerge.

The acting ensemble is excellent and vocal quality is good, although occasionally indistinct due to fast speech rate. All actors are believable as long-time friends, fun-loving, irresponsible and overconfident. Bradley gives a truly clear and engaging performance throughout as the moral compass of the quartet.

The rhythm flows well although the passivity of waiting to be rescued, which pervades the action, seems at odds with the enormity of the boy’s situation. As more than twenty-five cars pass the crash site their hope does not fade, nor does despair increase which, given the context, feels unusual.

The use of minimal props, apart from two tree stumps, allows for actor height variation, adding interest to the stage choreography. The wrecked on-stage car with headlights removed is highly effective, as is the use of bonnet-mounted lighting to simulate the car headlights when required.

The lighting and sound design support the story well with special highlights being the Dome lighting effects during the storm sequence and the ambient night and bush creature sounds.

There is an honesty in the story which provides very funny ‘boys will be boys’ moments, along with encountering a “non-human eating goat” and the misunderstandings when playing Truth-Truth-Lie, which reveals more than intended.

Congratulations to Jackson Burling for having the courage to tell us the truth and to Brick Haus Productions and BATS for supporting an emerging young playwright. 

I thoroughly recommend Boys, Wake Up! to all teenagers and their parents to open a dialogue around our drinking culture and its consequences.

There is so much more to this show to admire but, not wishing to be a plot spoiler, it is best that you book tickets and find out for yourself.

Don’t miss it.

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