Unsatisfying look at the seedy side of life

The Jungle
By Louis Nowra
Playing at Wharf 2, Sydney
October 25-November 18
Previewed by Jen Crothers The Jungle comprises 16 self-contained playlets, all set in Sydney over a 24-hour period, from dawn to dawn. It's a cynical look at modern life through the eyes of different Sydneysiders. There's Cynthia, the ageing rock star on her comeback tour; Vince, waiter turned personal assistant, who's looking for a big career break; Olive, a mentally disabled homeless girl; Nikki, a prostitute who is questioned over stolen drugs by a cop, and who's been speeding for 24 hours. The playlets are independent from each other, but ultimately tie together. The connections remind us that we each have an impact wherever we go. In a city of 3 million, there are more links than we could think possible. The Jungle has some interesting portrayals of women and gay men. The women, despite being wild, don't break beyond traditional "female" characteristics. Hope is a Kurt Cobain fan with all the passion of a groupie; Toni is a manipulative business woman; Bev, fag hag and PR to Cynthia Page, is bitter and out for revenge; Gloria is an older woman who fusses over her son and is going a bit crazy. On the other hand, the numerous gay male characters are just "normal" people: none have hang-ups about their sexuality. When Owen's father, Mark, comes to see his son to tell him he loves him, Owen tests his father's love by describing how he enjoys anal sex. The vivid detail is erotic for some and horrific for others. It is this physical description that sends Mark off the edge. But his despair is at his sense of loss as, for him, his son is a dead-end, unable to give him the grandchild he desires. The play deals a lot with the seedy side of life: sex, drugs and rock and roll, plus a fair bit of violence. It is confronting and challenging, yet unsatisfying. Humans are "pathetic" and "illogical" creatures — but that's OK if we're nice to each other. Cynthia, the "has been", gives Vince some of her personal philosophy: "All we can do to comfort each other, is enough". It is a plea for relief while being surrounded by the big bad world. It's a hopeful, but helpless theory. The Jungle is very funny in places, particularly Kate Fitzpatrick's excellent portrayal of an ex-junkie, alcoholic, drama queen, pretend pop star. It has some excellent dry and dark one-liners, such as "no one marries an Australian — it's like saying you're a loser".