Reviewed by Caroline Stafford
‘This can’t have been real’ I thought to myself, as the lights flared and the actors playing the uncomfortably real feeling FBI agents (Pete Simpson, Will Cobbs and Becca Blackwell) stepped closer to the female actor playing (actually real) Reality Winner (Susannah Perkins). Created and directed by Tina Satter, Is This A Room is the transcript of the real interrogation of a former Air Force linguist who was surprised at her home by a team of armed FBI agents in June 2017. While the actions of the individuals are not exactly the same, the storyline and dialogue are taken directly from the event itself, a fact that becomes more distressing as the play wears on.
The storyline centres on a suspected leak of classified information about Russian hacking influencing the 2016 US election, supposedly by Winner. When the FBI arrives they great pains to assure her that it is all voluntary, that they have a warrant, that she should cooperate… However, the agents draw closer, as they root through her home and life, eventually revealing their final trump card, all while Winner parries them with a sharp exchange of verbal swords.
Initially, I was suspicious of the hype that surrounded Is This A Room, being hailed by The New York Times as a groundbreaking show that took “the most boring thing ever written”, raw transcripts, and turned them into a “thrilling thriller”. There have never been truer words spoken. Gripping, from the initial introductions of the FBI to Winner’s final admission of guilt - the hype is clearly well deserved. This marvellously modern example of cinéma-vérité is a chilling reminder of the power government agencies, and men, have in this world.
Perhaps more sinister than the dialogue is the subtle intimidation tactics employed by the men of the FBI. While there are rarely overtly threatening gestures of movements from the men, the way they circle like sharks, drawing in and out of Winner’s personal space at whim, and even force her to whip around to follow them, is unnerving and for some women will be eerily familiar. In fact, much of the freaky fabric of the show is woven from the incredibly human performances of every actor. Their mannerisms, voices and gestures are so detailed and authentic that you feel like a voyeur, privy to the real taped investigation.
Finally, the magic of this show can be found in the other staging elements as well. The minimalist stage and props allow the audience to solely focus on the drama unravelling before them. Additionally, the way that the Lighting and Audio design team tackled the redacted elements in the original transcript was genius. Rather than shy away from mentioning them, they chose to highlight them by dramatically cutting the house lights and audio. Drawing gasps from the audience, this slashed through the action onstage and raised the heart rates of everyone in the room.
Even if you are not the biggest follower of American politics this is one to watch. Definitively gripping, it will have you on the edge of your seat right up to its cliffhanger ending.
Reviewer Note: Tickets for this review were provided by Perth Festival.