A journalist’s code of ethics can sometimes get in the way of a good story, so a former political journalist has written a black comedy about former PM Scott Morrison based on fact … but with a little poetic licence.
Tom Glassey worked in the press gallery during Scott Morrison’s leadership and he admits that his play – Playback (Or, A Play About But Not Starring A Famous Politician) – began as a vengeful project.
Revenge is a dish best served cold, however, and over time Tom’s work evolved into a sharp and sophisticated play exploring the many political lives of Scott Morrison and the public lives he affected.
“Morrison is basically someone to laugh at – not necessarily laugh with – but I do think he’s a funny character with enough distance removed,” Tom said. “As much as it’s a comedy, it does really go to some dark places but if you’re discussing something dark, you need more light to shine on it.”
As any reporter can attest, asking a defining question that can make headlines is the eternal quest in journalism.
“For me, the moment that I needed to happen with Morrison was I needed there to be that decisive legacy ruined in an interview by a journalist, to expose him,” Tom said. “We didn’t get that. He did his valedictory and he just left and that’s what made me so angry.”
This play serves as a cathartic exercise for Tom (cheaper than therapy).
“It’s really a journalist’s dream because writing a play is writing an interview, except you get to write both sides,” he said. “You get to ask the questions and write the answers, which does scratch a really specific itch.”
Full disclosure: Tom has never met Scott Morrison, nor has he had an off-the-record conversation with him.
Tom has, however, read almost everything on the public record about Scott Morrison’s leadership.
“The Morrison I’ve built is very much from the literature – it’s from all the transcripts, his maiden speech – pretty banal – it’s from his Kitchen Cabinet episode,” Tom said. “I read his biography, which is unsurprisingly quite self-serving, like a really long job application.”
Tom did attend a couple of press conferences with Scott Morrison.
“When I was in the gallery, this thing always drove me crazy. He would end press conferences by saying, ‘Sorry, sorry, I have to go, I have to make an international phone call,’ and it’s like, ‘Dude, you’re the Prime Minister, who are you trying to impress?’”
Spoiler alert: Scott Morrison’s character is never on stage (and not because there weren’t enough actors to represent his many portfolio hats).
Playing the journalist-in-search-of-a-gotcha-question is, funnily enough, former ABC journalist and local stage actor Andrea Close, joined by actor-improviser Tyler Jenkins.
“It was interesting coming into the theatre because you have journalist mind, which is ‘don’t get sued, don’t get sued’ and everyone at the theatre is super relaxed about everything,” Tom said. “I’m the nervous one.”
In addition to reading Hansard transcripts, Tom watched the Robodebt hearings, “which was a very difficult watch”.
“The thing that’s important about the play is to find this balance between forgetting him, because I don’t think he’s really worth memorialising, but also learning from his Prime Ministership and hopefully, we won’t do it again,” Tom said. “We can’t repeat these mistakes.”
It is unknown whether Scott Morrison, the 30th Prime Minister of Australia, will attend the play or give it a favourable review.
“He wouldn’t have a great sense of humour but my suspicion is, if he kicked up a stink, it would bring much more attention to the show,” Tom said.
“The thing I’m chasing is, I need catharsis. I’m very angry. I’m very confused and I think previously I’ve written stuff that was all about, ‘look how good I am at writing’. But no, this is something that is bigger than me and I need to interrogate it in that way.”
Playback is on at The Street Theatre 22-31 May with a special post-show Q&A on 28 May. Tix: thestreet.org.au/shows/playback-or-play-about-not-starring-famous-politician
