Sidekicks review | The Motley Bauhaus

We're all the heroes of our own story. But what if we're not in our own story, and someone else's? Are we nothing but a mere sidekick? And can we ever step up? In Stephen Vagg's Sidekicks, two friends navigate the complications of friendship and romance, considering the roles they play in each other's lives and whether they have the courage to change them.

Simon Chugg and Tammy Tresillian, who also co-direct, bring a relatively naturalistic approach to their portrayals of McKenzie and CB. Their interactions suggest two people at ease with one another, sharing a longstanding familiarity. However, the exaggerated accents and affected speech patterns adopted for the other characters feel jarring, undermining the believability established in their lead roles.

The play struggles to balance its romantic comedy and dramatic elements, never finding a middle ground between the pair. The humour draws heavily on pop culture references, but when each gag relies on three or four allusions, the effect becomes excessive. While individual jokes land, the sheer volume of these nods overwhelm the material rather than enhance it.

The use of the N-word during a heatred confrontation between McKenzie and his friend / colleague Hunter, along with mentions of molestation and assault, introduces a darker dimension that is unnecessarily confronting for a work of this nature. These subjects are raised almost in passing, only to be quickly abandoned, giving the impression that Vagg wants to push boundaries without knowing what to do with them afterwards. Their inclusion sits awkwardly alongside the lighter tone and the relationships that they're attempting to develop.

At roughly 80 minutes, the interval is unnecessary given the structure of the piece. Removing it and trimming around ten minutes would create a tighter, more cohesive 60-minute production, allowing the narrative to maintain momentum.

While the play explores the notion of people becoming supporting characters in their own lives, it doesn't follow through on what it means to take ownership of their own stories. It's never entirely clear what McKenzie or CB are struggling with, what holds them back from finding happiness in themselves or what they need to overcome to change their circumstances. The outcome suggests that falling in love is the key to stepping into the spotlight, but their growing romantic attachment doesn't address these underlying questions, leaving the central argument underdeveloped.

Sidekicks has an interesting concept and some entertaining exchanges, but its competing ambitions get in the way of telling a full realised story. There are laughs to be had, but they don't give its characters or core premise enough substance to make its resolution satisfying. Ultimately, there's a good idea here, but the play ends up playing second fiddle to its own potential.

SHOW DETAILS

Venue: The Motley Bauhaus, 118 Elgin St, Carlton
Season: until 7 November | Tues - Sat 7pm
Duration: 80 minutes
Tickets: $33 Full | $28 Conc
Bookings: The Motley Bauhaus

Image credit: Creative Futures Photography