"The Most Horrific - Vivienne Franzmann

"Knowledge is power. Knowledge is change."

Franzmann's theatre uncut play features many different political aspects throughout. The characters are unnamed, simply called A, B, C and D. This was really interesting as usually characters are named and it suggests that these character's are anonymous, anyone could fill these roles - these characters and the situations they're in could apply to anyone. It also suggests that the character's aren't the ones who are important and ensures that there's no emotional involvement with the characters; the political issues and ideas Franzmann's is trying to present are the ones with the spotlight. 

Franzmann's uses ironic devices throughout the play to explore how awful today's world is, for example, whilst D is trying to explain to C about the case regarding the Ugandan lesbian, C ignores them and pours a bucket of ice and water over their head. This references to the '2014 Ice Bucket Challenge' of the summer, though it started as a way to raise money for charity - it was then pulled out of context and people took part without donating. This suggests that we, as society, focus on the less important aspects of things. This again suggested by the use of C taking a selfie, whilst A and B are talking about a subject they deemed; "the most horrific..."

D references many different situations that have been in the media over the last year and a half - however, C is more interested in the commercial and overdone stories, news that entertain rather than inform "Cheryl Cole, Bankers are Cunts, Terrorists, Fundamentalists, Sex" - again, referencing to the ignorance of the media and press, as well as our society's approach to things. 

Though the play is littered with serious issues, it plays with different comedic elements to get different ideas across, for example, D's last joke about The Welfare State being nonexistent is a comical way to present Franzmann's ideas towards the audience, without specifically stating them plainly. 

I really liked the play and I feel Franzmann's use of mixing the serious issues brought by D and the different comedic and elements from our culture (such as the selfie) brought by C, gives it a really relatable approach. Many of the different aspects and issues brought up were familiar to me and it really left me thinking about how I approach and perceive different news stories and issues in the media - this is extremely important as it achieved the main goal of a political theatre piece; it left the audience thinking about themselves and the issues presented, long after the play was done.