H.R. The Musical #2 – Q Theatre: 25 Nov – Dec 6 (13th Floor Theatre Review)

HR The Musical #2, the sequel to 2004’s big hit, revealed Human Resources for  its irredeemable double-speak: how inhuman and unresourceful “human resources” are; how impersonal are the Personnel Department where, due to “privacy concerns,” employees are referred to only as numbers.

It tickled the pain-point of so many negative experiences: the powerlessness and fear of a system with its own rules and language. Anyone with ambition needs put up, with this, as the only escape is either up or out.

Tonight was its own form of escapism, where the machinations of HR are exposed in all their ridiculousness. Not surprising, there was a lack-lustre response to the faux glee of the invitation to conga line to the bar at the interval. (I obliged, probably due to an old-fashioned or even reptilian response. Maybe it just makes sense to actualise our shared experience of being ridiculous.) Most of the audience were far too self-aware. In fact, a lot looked like they worked in HR. (I definitely heard a couple chatting about “change management,” as you do.)

Everyone looked very at home in the comfortable industrial-chic Q theatre and bar. I was impressed at how obediently they returned to their seats at the 5-minute warning after the interval. Not a rebel to be seen.

The second-half set us up for breaking out. By this stage I felt sufficiently connected to the talented crew of Mika Austin, Amanda Grace Leo, Jessica Robinson and Amy Mansfield , who is also the writer and composer. Somehow they worked their magic to take us from a limpid conga to everyone jingling their keys on queue to the word “money” in a song about the reason for the submission to “the man.” The performances were polished, and you could see and feel the work that went into the slick production.

The transformation happened with skits that challenged one’s sense of security  and open-mindedness. We had a bleak look at a dystopian future where we are desperate for work out of need, not greed, and then there was the rap-off between the human system and AI. No prizes for guessing who won. It made my heart feel a little warmer toward the quirky dysfunctional and very human systems that result in the lunacy and waste we currently deal with. Even the Millennial co-worker was humanised in a way I related to.

The set was minimal but there were some clever set pieces—big-letter cut-outs, giving the wink (or was it the finger?) to corporate use of Acronyms and Initialisms. The actors moved them around to create new combinations, e.g. the diversity acronym DEI became DIE. Along with some slick costume changes it gave the show a sense of controlled fluidity.

There was method in the madness. By the final song Amanda Grace Leo gave it all in her soulful singing to unite us in the truth that its Christmas and that is the best time to remember our shared experience.

The theatre gives us a safe space to connect with others over some difficult realities:
Our vulnerabilities facing the complexities of human social systems, and an insecure future. Although we didn’t share a conga line at the finale, I felt a connection with my fellow salary-slaves in the audience and I hope they have a bright working future.

See you all at H.R. the Musical #3!

NRG

H.R. The Musical #2 is presented by Artsense Productions

Creative Team
Written and composed by Amy Mansfield
Directed by Katie Burson
Performed by Mika Austin, Amanda Grace Leo, Jessica Robinson and Amy Mansfield et al
Sound engineering by Luke Finlay, Primal Mastering
Artwork by Leith Macfarlane
Sound design and production by Lizzie Buckton and Amy Mansfield
Photography by Michelle McLennan

More info here.

Tickets here.

Presented by
Artsense Productions

Creative Team
Written and composed by Amy Mansfield
Directed by Katie Burson
Performed by Mika Austin, Amanda Grace Leo, Jessica Robinson andAmy Mansfield, with further cast and collaborators to be announced
Sound engineering by Luke Finlay, Primal Mastering
Artwork by Leith Macfarlane
Sound design and production by Lizzie Buckton and Amy Mansfield
Photography by Michelle McLennan

Audience Warnings
Haze. Coarse language. Adult themes.

 

 

 

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