Review:
The Battle of Boxville

by Bob Briton

Last week in Adelaide the Mandela Youth Group staged a satirical 
theatre piece that raised an uncomfortable issue for all age 
groups in society. The Battle of Boxville follows the 
exploits of a group of youth that takes to smashing televisions 
in the regional town of Boxville — hometown of world-renowned 
media magnate Rupert Wolf — to break the grip that TV has on the 
thinking and lifestyles of its people.

BADATA (the Boxville and Districts Anti-television Association) 
is an underground group formed under the guidance of Carla Parks. 
Her reading of Marx's Capital had lead her to the 
conclusion that "television is the opiate of the people" and that 
direct action was needed to get the townsfolk off their couches 
and back in charge of their lives. This is a town where parents 
insisted that children watch Neighbours and The Bold and the 
Beautiful!

The final straw for the young anti-TV campaigners came when 
Rupert Wolf returned to his hometown and, in response to a 
question from the local priest about how the media baron 
maintains contact with his maker said, "He' ll have to make an 
appointment like every body else". The acquiescence of the people 
before this arrogance tipped the scale and BADATA was formed.

Up until this point stage prop televisions, in the form of a 
cutout framing the familiar TV journalist's talking head, are a 
regular, malign (but very amusing) presence. Carla's arguments 
with her parents about the distorted reports of war, refugees and 
"terrorism" fall on deaf ears.

After a fruitless meeting between a delegation of the town's 
youth and Rupert Wolf, the TV smashing campaign begins. The 
guerrillas replace the TV sets with useful activities that 
deliver astounding benefits later in the play. Boxville is 
eventually freed from its addiction to the Wolf Channel.

The play's tongue in cheek treatment of the issues did not 
detract from the gravity of the real problem of a society 
addicted to a media hostile to its better interests. The 
situation stands to get worse if an Australia US Free Trade 
Agreement opens the door further to US programs. The images and 
ideas in the media will have even less to do with the real lives 
and struggles of the people.

Scriptwriter Damian Mead agrees that, while the present situation 
with the Australian media is serious, "if this free trade 
agreement comes in and we have more American influence on the 
airwaves it will be an absolute disaster".

This clever, witty and musically very accomplished one night 
stand made a valuable contribution to discussion of the crucial 
issue of the role of the media in societies like Australia.

Proceeds from the play went to Sally Duigan's Health Projects in 
South Africa.