From The Front Row

Arriving at the Old Fitz for the play, your night is already off to a great start. As the only surviving pub theatre in Australia, this atmospheric venue is a perfect setting for a play loosely inspired by a true Australian story of a feminist writer held hostage at gunpoint by a disgruntled student.

Upon entering the theatre space, the audience is immediately enveloped in the sounds of the Australian bush—chirping birds and buzzing cicadas—creating a vivid backdrop for the intimate setting of writer Margot Mason’s home. The stage is adorned with an eclectic array of books, hinting at the intellectual battles to unfold.

Lucy Miller delivers a standout performance as Margot, a revered feminist writer grappling with debilitating writer’s block. Her character embodies the struggle to stay relevant in a rapidly changing landscape of female representation and sexuality. Her latest book needs a new hook, but what new angle is there to explore on female sexuality?

Enter Jade Fuda as Molly Rivers, the fervent student whose admiration for Margot quickly reveals a darker undercurrent. Initially praising and fanatical, Molly’s obsession morphs into a chilling mission: to kill the woman whose work she holds responsible for her mother’s abandonment and subsequent suicide.

The dialogue shifts deftly between humour and tension as the play explores the evolving definitions of womanhood through the years. Margot and Molly’s banter serves as a comedic dissection of feminist ideals, questioning what it means to be an “ideal” woman—be it a nurturing homemaker, an ambitious careerist, or a childless self-improver. Margot is blamed for altering the “ideal” by swapping and changing the parameters in her every book, a relatable observation into the ever-shifting opinion of our own generation.

With the arrival of Molly’s exhausted homemaker daughter, Tess Thornton, who has disappointed Molly as she chose to dedicate herself to motherhood instead of a career, the three women represent polar opposites on the feminist scale. Who is the most “correct woman” you ask yourself as the story continues with the arrival of three men, equally as polarising and almost caricature like, leaving the audience reflecting on the complexities of female identity and the intersections of admiration and resentment.

The Female of the Species is not just a play but a thought-provoking exploration of feminism wrapped in sharp wit and dark humour.

Overall, with its strong performances, engaging script, and the Old Fitz’s charming ambience, this production is a must-see for anyone interested in the ongoing dialogue about womanhood in modern society.

The Female Of The Species season runs November 1 – 23, with session times as follows: 7pm Tuesday through Friday, 2pm and 7 pm Saturday, and 5 pm Sunday.

For tickets, please book @ https://www.oldfitztheatre.com.au/the-female-of-the-species

Photographer: Noni Carroll Photography

This review also appears on It’s On The House. Check out more reviews at Whats The Show to see what else is on in your town.

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