The Trophy Boys
A Melbourne theatre review by Alex First
The privileged, sexist, misogynistic attitude of a group of high-achieving private Year 12 students is put under the microscope in this darkly comedic satire.
The quartet – Owen, Jared, Scott and David – attends St Imperium College, where annual school fees are $50,000.
They constitute the debating team – three speakers and the student adviser – that year-on-year has been the top dog.
And now comes the zenith of their endeavours, the finale of the Interschool Debating Tournament.
St Imperium is pitted against its sister school.
The lads have a one-hour window for preparation, during which they are not allowed to use any electronic devices for assistance – simply their own brain power.
And with a single turn of the whiteboard, their heart sinks for the topic they have been given is that feminism has failed women. They are to take the affirmative position.
Mounting a series of cogent arguments – in an endeavour to win the debate against a group of senior girls – proves to be extremely challenging.
Be that as it may, each tries their best to make their points and then comes a bombshell revelation that changes everything.
It will pit student against student, test enduring friendships and show what lengths they are prepared to go to cover up their entrenched shortcomings.
It is one disgrace after another that belies a win-at-all-costs attitude to claim that coveted trophy.
Performed by a female and non-binary cast in masculine drag, Trophy Boys is the searing work of Emmanuelle Mattana, who wrote it when she was 21.
It is an excoriating portrait of masculinity, which starts out as simply hilarious, before adopting a much darker and more sinister tone.
Mattana, who is also an actor, although not in this production, unapologetically focuses on enablement and the perpetuation thereof.
The performances are uniformly excellent: provocative and assured, as the foursome interacts and collides.
Myfanwy Hocking plays scholarship kid Owen, the self-declared strongest debater.
With a disarming smile, Fran Sweeney-Nash is passionate redhead Jared. In a relationship with one of the opposing team, Jared fervently and repeatedly declares his love of women.
Gaby Seow assumes the role of Scott, the somewhat dippy son of a high-powered lawyer, while Leigh Lule is adviser David, who is forever trying to prove himself.
Among a succession of diatribes, two stand out, urgent and urging dance sequences, that speak volumes.
The simple set design by Ben Andrews, highlighted by portraits of 13 powerful women in a classroom environment, sets the tone.
Tight direction by Marni Mount keeps the action moving, and the surprises and shocks coming.
The impact of The Trophy Boys is unmistakable: the cause for shame and a deep reflection of entrenched values.
It is on at Fairfax Studio, Arts Centre Melbourne until 24th August, 2025.
