Izabella Yena and Dan Spielman explore their student/teacher relationship. Photo: Jaimi Joy
Canadian playwright Hannah Moscovitch’s tale of a university professor’s seduction of one of his students is hardly a new story, but it is so exquisitely told and enacted in this production directed by Petra Kalive that it is a delight from beginning to end.
The lights go up and we meet Jon Macklem (Dan Spielman), self-described rockstar writer/academic. We soon learn that Jon is separated from his third wife (poor dear couldn’t cope with his obsessive writing habits) and in lust to one of his students – ‘the girl in the red coat’ – who turns out to be 19-year-old Annie (Izabella Yena).
Jon, who talks about himself in the third person – come on, he is the star of his own show – is amusing, witty, intelligent. After all, ‘learning is seduction’; ‘the erotics of pedagogy’ and all that. Then, as luck would have it, Annie turns out to be his neighbour. And she has inadvertently locked herself out of her flat. What can a prof do, but offer his help?
No prizes for guessing what happens.
Jon beats himself up (very briefly) for this transgression of teacher/student boundaries and, in case, their intimacy is noticed, he moves his and Annie’s liaisons to a hotel room. Annie does not like this. It begins to dawn that she is vulnerable, and exploited.
And when Jon’s wife reappears, Annie is swiftly ditched. With supposed recriminations and justifications on his part.
So far, so ordinary. Except that the script, the acting and the wordplay are extraordinarily good. The character of Jon, self-deprecatory and ever ready to excuse himself (and unbuckle his trousers), seems to have no idea that he is at fault. Yet in his third person telling, he is aware, but unaware of his derelictions. Annie is in thrall to his power and learning.
As Annie, Yena is a coltish teenager, but bright, clever and funny. Still finding her way, she does what she thinks is expected of her. Is she exploited or does she exploit? (My answer to that: I thought of Clinton and Lewinsky. The dynamics of power.)
As Jon, Spielman brings us a man many women will have met – either in uni or at work. Charming, likeable and assured, a possible mentor. A practised seducer. Not that he would see it that way.
Life moves on. Jon continues his writing and academic career. Annie forges her own.
They meet again. Jon invites her to a hotel room for a chat. A hotel room? For a chat?
What has changed? The #MeToo movement for one thing. Annie’s maturity for another. A sweeping turnaround in the ethics of masculine power (in this case, white) and authority? Let’s not get carried away.
I’m not going to tell you what happens next, but it’s brilliant.
Sexual Misconduct is eighty minutes of sharp dialogue, great acting, slick direction (and full credit to the lighting and stage design – it’s not every day you see a lawn mower on set). Highly recommended.
Until 10 July at Belvoir. Prices: Full price from $70, Seniors from $60, Concession from $50, 30-Down from $48, Student Saver from $35
Tickets: https://belvoir.com.au/productions/sexual-misconduct-of-the-middle-classes/ or (02) 9699 3444
