It's All Made Up

Synopsis

A Blue Room 

Michael Forbes, Helen Green, and Nisha Mansou are seated at a table with microphones, moderated by a Moderator. The play opens with an introduction to the panelists, with Nisha questioning the purpose of the panel and revealing the unexpected nature of their participation. As the introductions proceed, Michael delivers a lengthy, humorous monologue about his mother and his experiences in the theatre, while Nisha and Helen express their confusion and reluctance. The Moderator’s unpredictable directives, such as asking Helen to pretend to be Michael’s mother or replacing the panelists with goldfish, add layers of absurdity and tension, leading to a raw discussion on topics such as empathy, privilege, and identity.

The play tackles themes of identity, authority, and family dynamics with a blend of satire and absurdity. The tone oscillates between humorous and confrontational, reflecting the characters’ struggles with their roles and expectations. The style is experimental, employing a non-linear narrative and breaking the fourth wall to engage the audience directly. The play challenges traditional panel discussion formats, using dark comedy to explore deeper societal issues, including generational conflicts and the nature of privilege and empathy. The form is episodic, with each segment revealing more about the characters’ backgrounds and underlying tensions, culminating in a chaotic yet thought-provoking discourse.