"The Blue Note" By Jane Palomountain

Read by the Cast of Neighbours (Australian TV serial)

The issues crossed by this play were many and varied. Playwright Jane Palomountain wrote the play in the early 90's yet the issues reflected were exactly that of the morning plenary. Enter the girls - twenty somethings sitting at a café chatting as girlfriends do about everything under the sun. All educated, upwardly mobile, sexually active and "normal". The talk of sex comes up which leads to talk of unprotected sex and the risks that come with it. After talk of how you can come into contact with the virus the girls make a pact to always have protected sex to ensure their safety. Enter the boy - they are handsome, funny and wanting to have sex.

Different scenarios unfold which make us the audience laugh. They are funny because we know exactly what is going on. Smooth talking boys saying just the right phrases in the hope of scoring, dancing in a nightclub where the mood is just right for meeting that perfect guy! Three months down the track he wants to throw away the condoms and she wants to them to have an HIV test. They compromise and do both, throw away the condoms and have an HIV test. The stigmas attached to the using of condoms. She wants to use a condom for safety, he thinks she has many men through her bed and is a slut. She wants to have a test for peace of mind, he thinks that she doesn't love or trust him. The test comes back positive. Confusion, anger, frustration, guilt and more pour into an already numb mind. The feelings which one experiences upon being told they are HIV positive come to the fore. Questions you ask yourself over and over again about the trauma of telling friends and family and what their reactions will be and the coming to terms with being positive enter your anxious mind.

The use of a "celebrity cast" in any country is a sure way to attract attention. Much of the teenage audience came to see "people they see on the television" and took notice of the sensitive issues because it was "the celebrity endorsement factor". The use of theatre, which crosses all cultures and language barriers, was triumphant yet again. Everyone can find delight, humour and empathy in the messages being delivered by theatre whether the actors are celebrities of not, the take home messages still remain the same. Today the audience was largely teens, and if the applause was anything to go by, they got the message.