Gender bias in theatre.

Just to let you know, I was deliberately being a little facetious when I used the word 'minority'. I don't mean it literally. ;) I also deliberately avoided a full review of Singular Women, as this is not a review forum. I also did not assume (and NEVER DO) that everyone else felt the same way as I did when watching that show. I also didn't say it was a bad show at all! I don't know if you saw it Garreth, but I think if you had you would see what I mean (or maybe not, because I think we pretty much disagree on everything!). But just to explain myself a little more, I really felt that the four different women presented were rather stereotypical and that the direction of the monologues tended to exaggerate that at times, which I think was due to the style of comedy they going for. I don't think that's necessarily a bad thing, it was still an entertaining night out, but I just wasn't particularly moved by the writing because... well, if I wanted to make assumptions about other women, I can do that in the street, or while I'm at work! ;) I don't object to the use of stereotype, it's just I'm not sure they were aware they were doing it, and in this case, I found the choices a little offensive. Not hugely, but there was a lack of originality and quite a few choices that belittle women that rubbed me up the wrong way a little. And if we had any little people in the audience, I would have been VERY interested to hear what they had to say about the third monologue. Is this sort of lampooning really ok? Or will we look back on it in embarrassment, the way we do when we read history books written in the early part of the 20th century... These monologues were written in the early 90s, if I remember correctly, and I think it's quite possible that the expectations of political correctness are not as rigid as they are today. I very much doubt other people in the audience would have seen it that way, because obviously I am hyper-sensitive in this area! And the majority of the people there were of a completely different demographic to me. But I think it is good to have some feminist policing sometimes... Also, in regards to Busting Out, the audiences for these shows are WOMEN. Obviously women don't have a problem hearing about other women. Not sure what sort of audiences The Vagina Monologues has had, but I'd assume it would be a similar ratio of women to men. In terms of the reactions to race and religion, I was thinking of a few specific things... an article by an islamic comedian performing at the Edinburgh Festival being told she always plays 'the race card' because she discusses her heritage and experiences on stage (she argues: don't we all talk about what we know?) and being beaten up for it on occasion; performances of The Black Album at the National in London seeming to have quieter houses while I was there (that's just a deduction though, I haven't seen numbers); a friend of mine saying all you have to do to be persecuted in this day and age is to say you're a Christian... These are just surmisings based on my own experiences. Of course I see what I want to see. I'd say we all do. Again: I NEVER assume that what I say is the opinion of everyone else in the audience. Or the world, for that matter. It is just FOOD FOR THOUGHT. I probably won't even be of the same opinion in about a month... Just picking up on one thing you said there, Garreth - are you saying you got passed over for a job because you werea man and they wanted a woman? Could you tell us about that or will it get you in trouble?