Review: AFFLUENZA, Riverside Studios

Photo credit: Danny Kaan

Wealth, privilege and the consequences of growing up without accountability provide plenty of material for a compelling piece of theatre. Unfortunately, Affluenza, written and directed by Andy Sandberg, is a production that has a great deal of promise but repeatedly fails to deliver on it.

Inspired by true events, the play follows wealthy teenager Dylan (Noah Schnapp), whose involvement in a devastating drink-driving incident raises questions about responsibility and whether an upbringing of extreme privilege can leave someone unable to distinguish right from wrong. With his parents determined to protect him and lawyer Brad (Rupert Young) developing an extraordinary legal defence, the stage appears set for an interesting examination of wealth and the American justice system.

However, the writing lacks the subtlety needed to explore these ideas effectively. The dialogue is frequently on the nose, spelling out its messages rather than allowing the audience to draw their own conclusions. The first act spends considerable time establishing Dylan's character, his family and the circumstances surrounding the incident, seemingly building towards a courtroom confrontation. Yet, almost without warning, the trial has come and gone in the blink of an eye, leaving the audience in its aftermath without the central character the story has focused on to this point. 

The scenes feel increasingly fragmented, connected by a common storyline but lacking any dramatic progression. Just as the production appears to be finding its direction, it changes course entirely. The second act is where things really unravel. Suddenly, the cast are playing different characters, with Young now portraying an older Dylan and Schnapp playing his teenage son, Todd. The action shifts to a reality TV programme documenting Dylan's life, an idea that could offer an interesting commentary on the relationship between wealth, celebrity and accountability, but instead feels bizarrely disconnected from what has come before. At one point, a cameraman performs karaoke accompanied by dry ice before supplying drugs to Dylan's teenage son…

There are some worthwhile performances amongst the confusion. Schnapp brings a convincing quality to his portrayal of Dylan, while Young is equally effective in his contrasting roles. The cast are certainly not the production's weakness, but even good performances struggle to make sense of the erratic material.

Perhaps the greatest frustration is that Affluenza has the foundations of a genuinely thought-provoking play. Its subject matter offers opportunities to examine the relationship between privilege, justice and personal responsibility, yet the production repeatedly sidesteps the very questions it raises. The conclusion feels particularly forced, attempting to deliver a powerful final statement without having earned its impact.

Ultimately, Affluenza is a somewhat frustrating experience, not because it lacks interesting ideas, but because it never quite knows what to do with them.

** Two stars

Reviewed by: Tara Whenray

Affluenza plays at Riverside Studios until 28 November, with tickets available here.