Edging review

In Edging, Australian border control practices are explored through a queer lens and a smattering of pop culture references. Initially coming across as a bit of fun talking about getting into infamous German nightclubs and horoscope guessing, Edging takes a look at the treatment of refugees as they attempt to enter, and remain, in Australia.

Co-creators (along with APHIDS) and performers, Sammaneh Pourshafighi - who came to Australia as a refugee from Iran - and Eden Falk - who did voiceover work for the reality TV show Border Security - are a fascinating duo. It's captivating watching the power dynamics shift between them as they discuss the choices they have made in life that brought them to this moment and the moral and ethical implications of these decisions. The pair role play various airport scenarios, with a focus on the challenges faced by queer refugees during their visa applications.

While these are entertaining and thought provoking, they don't always land because the tone doesn't change enough. Frivolous moments are presented, including one where Pourshafighi plays a memory game of a diorama of a Melbourne sex on premises venue with an audience member. Once it's over, we are told that a refugee had their visa declined as they were unable to satisfactorily describe the venue to immigration officers. These instances that should hit us hard and leave us feeling shocked and angry, don't carry adequate emotional gut punches, resulting in little impact.

At one point Pourshafighi and Falk joke that people would say this production is under rehearsed and not fully realised, and unfortunately they are half right. The performances are authentic and engaging, and portrayed with the appropriate temperament and level of humour, but the work wants to make a statement about the processing of queer refugee specifically, but doesn't seem quite sure how to put it all together.

The design elements are well considered and executed with Kate Baxter and Lara Thoms creating a convincing security checkpoint with a functioning conveyor belt. Items are placed on the belt, and as they travel to their impending doom, a camera positioned directly above projects these crash landings. The rest of the white tarkett is kept bare and enhances the coldness and harshness of border security and the outcome for these refugees. Jenny Hector's lighting design and Tilman Robinson's sound design add to the heightened atmosphere, and draw us deeper into the world/s that is/are being questioned.

Despite its title, Edging never feels like we are building towards something big or heading towards a particular direction that we don't see from the first few minutes. There's no build up to anything and the minimal change of pacing means that the show stagnates even with the committed performances and interesting premise. In this case, Edging's lack of climax does not intensify the experience for the audience.

SHOW DETAILS

Venue: North Melbourne Town Hall, 521 Queensberry St, North Melbourne
Season: until 1 December | Wed - Sat 7:00pm, Sun 5:00pm
Duration: 70 minutes
Tickets: $35 Full | $20 Conc
Bookings: Arts House

Image credit: Gregory Lorenzutti