J.T. Rogers’s new play, “Corruption,” delves into the scandal surrounding the phone-hacking scandal at News International, owned by Rupert Murdoch. The story begins on Rebekah Brooks’s wedding weekend, where she is appointed chief executive of the company as newspapers are considered outdated. The play follows the scandal that erupts when it is revealed that journalists had hacked phones, including that of a missing child found dead.
The central figure is Tom Watson, a Labour member of Parliament, who is determined to expose the corruption within News of the World. He teams up with other journalists, lawyers, and politicians to uncover the extent of surveillance, intimidation, and gathering of secrets. Despite the risks involved, they are committed to taking on the tabloid and Murdoch.
Directed by Bartlett Sher, “Corruption” struggles to engage the audience due to its overwhelming amount of information and reliance on video and projected text. While the play tries to streamline the complex events and characters, it fails to tap into the human elements of the story and lacks a clear narrative thread. The portrayal of the scandal and its aftermath lacks the vitality needed to make it compelling for the audience.
Despite some sparks of life, the play feels remote and struggles to cut through the intricate web of details. The complex nature of the scandal and the various characters involved make it challenging for the audience to fully grasp the significance of the events. Overall, “Corruption” presents a tantalizing subject matter but falls short in engaging the audience in a meaningful way.
“Corruption” is playing at the Mitzi E. Newhouse Theater in Manhattan until April 14th.
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Photo credit www.nytimes.com
