“Erica Lovell is to be congratulated for directing this fine, well-timed comedic offering. The talent and sharp dialogue of playwright Joanna Murray-Smith’s (Julia, Switzerland, Berlin) are at their best in this play.“
Julia Newbould
4.5 cerebral vaginas
Old Fitz Theatre
Sydney
November 1-23
Erica Lovell is to be congratulated for directing this fine, well-timed comedic offering. The talent and sharp dialogue of playwright Joanna Murray-Smith’s (Julia, Switzerland, Berlin) are at their best in this play.
Female of the Species is a drawing room drama brought sharply up to date with Margot Mason, a famous 70s-era feminist writer at odds with her daughter Tess (Lib Campbell), a stay-at-home wife and mother, Tess’s feminised husband, and a contemporary but vengeful feminist.
When we first see Margot (Lucy Miller) she is talking to her publisher about her next manuscript which is due. Truth is, she’s struggling with writer’s block but she doesn’t want to admit she hasn’t got anything which will equal her groundbreaking text, The Cerebral Vagina.
Just when she is feeling down, and frustrated, a fervent fan, Molly (Jade Fuda), comes to her door. Margot is ready to boot her out but the more Molly speaks about her work, the more flattered Margot becomes and starts to let down her guard. But it doesn’t take long for Margot in her haughty superiority to offend Molly.
Molly pulls a gun and a hostage situation ensues. Cue the hilarity. Margot’s daughter Tess (Lib Campbell) arrives with her own take on being a woman, followed by Tess’s husband Bryan (Doron Chester) who weighs in on the feminist discourse.
Lucy Miller is perfect as Margot, embodying the arrogant, always-right author with sharp words and total self-absorption. Young fan Molly is a great counterpart to the perfectly groomed Molly, and he roughness and obvious lack of means are well played by Jade Fuda. Lib Campbell and Doron Chester bring great comedy. From the first moment Lib appears on the scene farce follows. Her life choices – 24/7 care for her young children – are polar opposite to her mother’s, and have resulted in complete exhaustion. And sparring with her is the equally comedic stage husband. Doron Chester owns the stage in all his scenes. Almost 100 minutes of fast-paced, clever talking and farce, the play also boasts Mark Lee as publisher Theo Hanover and Joe Kalou as taxi-driver Frank.
The set is beautifully elegant, just right for the imperious self-indulgent Margot, and costumes are ideal for the characters.
The Female of the Species is a clever play to bring into the collective consciousness now. While there many aspects of feminism and how it’s described and fought for, we’re all fighting for the same outcomes – equity and equality. We might all be different and use different language and ideals, but we want choice to be ours. “We need to laugh in order to evolve and our evolution, our perpetual motion towards a nuanced, compassionate, and empowered expression of womanhood in whatever form chosen by the woman, whoever she is, is what this play advocates for” says director Lovell. “In 2024, The Female of the Species is more relevant than it was in 2006, because in
2024 we seem to have gone backwards,” says director Lovell. “As a teacher I’ve witnessed young men say things to young women my male peers would never have dared to say to me in 2002 when I finished high school.”
It’s clever and entertaining, and is an enjoyable theatrical experience. It made me forget momentarily the newly elected President of the US. What it didn’t make me forget was that as women we need to preserve the choices we have and fight hard for what we want. Together.
Julia Newbould, Theatre Now
