There are six plays under the WOMEN, POWER & CULTURE-NOW banner.
DREAMING OF A KISS ON A PIER is written by Suzie Miller and directed by Alice Livingstone. This very funny play is the best written in the WOMEN, POWER & CULTURE season. In a clever role reversal five men meet for morning tea and discuss relationships, unsupportive wives, preparing school lunches and doing the school drop-off and the boorish behaviour of a group of women at the bar.
Alice Livingstone’s measured direction elicits convincing performances from the five actors; Wade Doolan as Andre, Radek Jonak as Cameron, Paul-William Mawhinney as Barney, Nick Curnow as David and Nadim Kobeissi as Eric. The men could easily have played caricatures of women but it is a more genuine experience than that, and very amusing.
I THINK THE INTERVIEW WENT WELL MUM is written by Van Badham and directed by Sama Ky Balson. It starts with the actors appearing from all corners of the theatre simultaneously spruiking facts about female oppression, discrimination and harassment.
This felt a bit like being lectured to, but the narrative then changes scenes to an all male theatre board discussing staging a theatrical production.. The pitch is made by a talking vagina that encounters resistance from the patriarchal club. The talking vagina and the inflatable woman, unsurprisingly, give us some humorous moments. This play raises important issues but a stronger focus on drama and the story would be more entertaining and better serve the cause.
RED RIDING HOOD is written by Maxine Mellor and directed by Carla Moore. It ostensibly tells the tale of a high school power struggle for School Captaincy between Julianne (Sonya Kerr) and Bevyn (Robert J Edwards), while reflecting on the political machinations of Julia Gillard & Kevin Rudd. This is brought to our attention by Julianne’s red hair and Bevyn’s reading THE ART OF WAR. Sonya Kerr’s enjoyable performance conveys deviousness and empathy, in her entertaining repartee with Bevyn.
EVE is written by Zoe Hogan and directed by Alice Livingstone. Poor Eve (Natalie Rees) has a lot against her. She has an exploitative boss (Peter McAllum) and the collective advice passed down to women over the ages, specifically in this case by Examiner (Cheryl Ward), is depressing. She is told, amongst other wretched advice, to be clever but not too clever. Her escape from this miserable situation will have to come from her inner strength.
COUNTRY MATTERS: A FRAGMENT is written, directed and performed by Danielle Maas. This is essentially a stand-up routine and contains lots of laugh. The Shakesperean reference in the title gives us a clue but who would have thought a disabled vagina could be the basis of a comedy routine. It is let down a little by Danielle’s delivery. Some phrases were rushed and unintelligible and some asides were inaudible. In a comedy club performed with a microphone these faults would be alleviated. It was a shame this minor fault detracted from a funny routine.
THE SEX ACT is written by Alana Valentine and directed by Augusta Supple. This play has several threads running through it and the actors playing multiple roles. A main theme concerns the historic passing of the Sex Discrimination Act 1984. I liked Stephen Wilkinson’s portrayal of the pragmatic Bob Hawke, accepting he had to compromise to appease the religious lobby. Kate Skinner is adept as Doug Anthony’s wife and Susan Ryan.
THE SEX ACT addresses the dilemma for today’s younger women of supporting the feminist cause and the need to avoid succumbing to a victim mentality. Can one always act as an individual to cope in a discriminatory society and not rely on legislation to guide human behaviour?!
NOW plays at the New Theatre, 542 King St, Newtown until Saturday, 5th November, 2011.
© Mark Pigott
30th October, 2011