Proud review | The Motley Bauhaus

James Watson's Proud follows Jack, a nineteen-year-old suburban kid who finds himself edging into the world of online right-wing politics, pushed along by a mix of grief, confusion and the kind of hunger for belonging that certain corners of the internet know how to exploit a little too well. The play tracks how family tension, old wounds and casual racism can set the stage for something far darker, and Watson clearly understands how easily that spiral can happen.

It is an engaging story, and one that captures the mood of how disillusionment and a need for purpose can make young men vulnerable to that pull in a believable and alarming way. I do think it would have been a bolder decision for Watson to actually name the cultural background of George's wife. Leaving it vague reads less as universality and more as hesitancy, which softens the impact of what the play is trying to interrogate.

Structurally, the piece builds toward a full circle moment, with Jack finally stepping into the Proud Boys movement he has been circling for most of the show. It's a natural endpoint, but an additional scene with a gun and backyard chaos, undercuts what was shaping up to be a powerful finish. A bit more exploration of Jack's path would also help, as the death of his grandfather, while certainly a trigger, does not fully account for the speed of his descent, almost as if we skip a beat between inner conflict and total indoctrination.

James Starbuck is very compelling as Jack, carrying both the softness and the volatility of teenage boyhood. He makes Jack's distress and pain unflinchingly immediate, especially the sense that the boy cannot see a way out of his situation. His shifts between Jack and the supporting characters are done with distinct physical and vocal changes that keep the storytelling sharp and grounded.

Oscar Sarre's sound design maintains a constant tension beneath the performance, particularly as Jack sinks further into the online echo chamber. The use of I Still Call Australia Home perfectly sets up the ease with which innocence can be corrupted. This mood is supported by a straightforward lighting design that may be simple, but consistently elevates the emotions Jack is wrestling with.

Proud has strong bones and a clear intent, and while some choices hold it back from landing with raw force, the production still offers a thoughtful and timely look at how young men get caught in the crossfire of culture, identity and all the noise surrounding them.

SHOW DETAILS

Venue: The Motley Bauhaus, 118 Elgin St, Carlton

Season: until 22 October | 7pm

Duration: 60 minutes

Tickets: $32 Full | $27 Conc

Bookings: The Motley Bauhaus

Image Credit: Emelia Williams