Need Your Passport : Summer Heights High

So, preface, the discontinuation in updates was a one time thing. I hope to catch up, but I'm not pressing myself to. I'm just going to swing back into the ol' schedule I had and figure things out from there.

Series Name: Summer Heights High
Television Network : ABC(Australia), HBO
Running Time : 27 Minutes
Broadcast Run : September 5th, 2007 to October 24th, 2007 (8 Episodes)

HBO/ABC1's Summer Heights High
Chris Lilley as Jonah

Ever heard of Chris Lilley? Filmed for and in Australia, Summer Heights High revolves around Chris Lilley protraying three completely separate roles. The first is that of teenage debutant and recent transfer from private to public school, Ja'mie King(not to be confused with Hollywood starlet Jamie King), who is a self indulgent pretty popular girl. She quickly befriends the most popular girls at the public school, but looks down upon them due to their not being able to afford private schooling.

The second is Mr. G, an aspiring theater director who Machiavellianly takes over control of the school's drama club for his own purpose. He crafts a play about a student who dies in a drug overdose during the school year. Despite having no contact with said student, he writes himself into the play as a counselor to the troubled teen. When the younger students can't perform the role to his expectations, he of course steps in and becomes the star of the show.

The final is my favorite of the three, Tongan student Jonah Takalua. He enjoys breakdancing and getting laughs from his friends and classmates. He can't read, and gets easily frustrated by things he can't understand. He routinely draws a picture of a penis with the word "tation" after word(as in dictation) in graffiti all around the school. Most of his teachers react negatively simply due to word of mouth, when most of his acting out is just seeking attention and crying for help without actively admitting his personal short comings.

While each plot thread throughout the series is well crafted and articulated, and an accurate depiction of school in general, and I assume of the system in Australia, the main draw of the show is the depth each character has and the changes they go through throughout the series. And if you thought this was a drama? This is anything but. It's down to earth comedy focusing on three parallel lives being lived out in a suburban high school, and c'mon. Wasn't high school horrible and hilarious at the same time?

Chris Lilley's diversity truly shines through. These three characters are completely different from one another, their stature, their posture, their dialect, their tone, it's a remarkable performance that rings true, even though it's a 32 year old sitting in class as a 16 year old. Truly reminiscent of HBO's "The Ali G Show," except with a linear story, Summer Heights High  is an amazing look at the process of acting.

B

Jonah in English Class "Puck You!"


Ja'mie King "Why don't you go fuck yourself public school bitch."