GenQ - For the not so straight individual

20-year-old son Adam is missing. All his parents Lia (Sarah Peirse) and Nick (AFI-nominee Nicholas Bell) have is an email saying that he was thinking of going to Jakarta, leaving them with their own grief and uncertainty.

"At three o'clock in the morning, this is what I think. I think somebody killed him. They killed him, God, I don't know how I'm uttering these words ... they killed him because he's white and Western and they hated him. And it wasn't personal. Which somehow makes it worse."

Five months on, they continue their search, grasping at the hope presented, in turn, by a kindly spiritualist (Green Room-winner Beverley Dunn) and a ruthless journalist (Caroline Brazier, Ray's Tempest). Out of the blue, the phone rings. But is it the call they've been waiting for?

The performances in this piece are what save it from being a waste of 2 and a half hours. Unfortunately the writing lets it down in that it could be quite a beautiful piece, however it quite often feels as though many different thoughts are melded together to create an idea, and this often leaves the audience confused.
The story is at times touching and darkly comical, however there are alot of holes that need to be filled. It is worth seeing if you enjoy seeing a strong ensemble cast.

The Enlightenment season runs until the 21st of July at The Arts Centre Fairfax Studio. See www.mtc.com.au for more details.