Popular teacher, Tom, is accused and convicted of having sexual relations with a 15 year old student. Carey Crim's play shows the devastating consequences of that event not only for him, but for his family and friends. While they alternate between support for his protestations of innocence and suspicion that he is actually a sexual predator, they also become victims of what has happened. Their limbo of unknowing strains relations, and the abuse and suspicion of the community becomes a penalty for Tom's defenders as well as the accused. His punishment does not end after he has served his time in prison, but equally, neither does theirs. While painting a powerful portrait of the personal toll taken on all connected to such an occurrence, 23.5 Hours also raises many serious social questions: the distinction between due legal process and justice, the differing definitions and notions of the age of consent, the balance between a community's need to protect itself and its concomitant desire to rehabilitate offenders, plus the new vigilantism that is fed by social media. The pain of all involved is palpable, but because the victim is never seen and her side of the story is left untold, the audience is in no position to hazard an opinion about the merits of the case, and that is the point. The focus is meant to be on the secondary victims of this circumstance. 23.5 Hours lacks a traditional narrative arc; the play simply circles around the dissolution of the family, the friendship circle and the community that results from this crime. It is a moving, but rather monotone presentation that depends on the quality of the cast, and in this regard it succeeds very well. David Sturzaker is completely believable as the nerdy, narcissistic Tom, and Lisa Dwan superbly develops her character as the supportive wife who gradually disintegrates under the external and internal pressures of being the loyal spouse. Jem Matthews does a nice turn as the conflicted adolescent who acts out his pain. As the friend whose priorities are her own family, Allyson Ava-Brown is spot on, and Jonathan Nyati is excellent as Tom's jock buddy who just wants to avoid it all. In the light of recent sex scandals in the news, this is a production that does an extremely effective job of humanising some complex questions about controversial issues and of highlighting the plight of the often overlooked secondary victims in these situations.
Rated: ★★★★
Reviewed by J.C.
Photo by Charles Flint
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