Tagged is a very timely plays showing in terms of relevance to a modern day audience. This is an impressive piece of writing from Craig Macdonald, who also stars in the play, following the lives of three young people on Facebook and also in real life. It is a clever commentary on the state of our society and the effect social networking sites have on the way we interact with one another. Furthermore, it’s a stark reminder of the fact that we pass judgement without thinking, which detaches us from reality or lulls us into a false sense of security. ‘I know the names of people I’ve never even met before’ confesses Kimberley Joyce’s character - this false sense of personal connection is further underlined as we never find out the names of the three characters, but only their thoughts and the way in which they present themselves on Facebook.
The fact that parts of this play happen ‘online’ while others in real life could make the distinction between them difficult to pull off, but Director Amy Gilmartin has managed to convey this convincingly to the audience. The use of a screen behind the characters is a clever and humorous way of making the distinction obvious. The three person cast work exceptionally well with each other, giving heartfelt and convincing character portrayals. Special mention should go to Kizzy Lindsay, however, who moved me to tears during her monologue and also provided the comic relief during the production. Tagged is an example of young, up-and-coming talent in writing, production, and acting.
