The FEMALE of the species

‘The FEMALE of the species’ is a hilarious play by Australian playwright Joanna Murray-Smith. This Black Swan Theatre Company production is showing at The Playhouse Theatre in Pier Street, each evening at 7.30 (with some matinees) until 6^th July.

           The scene is the country house of Margot Mason (Deborah Kennedy) who is an egocentric, misandrist, and has made a fortune writing books about freedom for the vagina. Having examined vaginas from every angle, she has reached a writer’s block, when into her home walks a teenage student. This young girl, Molly (Natalie Holmwood) was one of Mason’s biggest fans, but after having been told by the famous novelist, that she has no writing talent whatsoever, Molly has now got a completely different agenda on her mind.
            During an argument between Margot and Molly, in staggers Margot’s unloved, and unwanted melancholic daughter, Tess (Alison van Reeken) followed by a trail of Kleenex. She has come to finally clear the air with her mother. Soon after this, Tess’s ‘ideal’ husband, Kiwi Bryan (Matt Dyktynski) arrives to find out why his wife is not at home. In a series of mixed metaphors and malapropisms, Bryan tries to settle things down, when in walks Frank (Tony Briggs) the taxi driver who has been waiting patiently in the car, for Tess to come back and pay him.
            Just when you think things cannot get any worse, Margot’s gay publisher (Igor Sas) arrives to pick up the final copy of a book that has hardly been started.

This play has a laugh every 20 seconds and a belly laugh every few minutes. The density and quality of the comedy writing is outstanding, and with Tom Gutteridge’s excellent directing, the whole show is filled with action, imagination and wonderful cameos – like the depressive Tess’s orgasm. Fun sound effects from Kingsley Reeve.

The set (Caitlin Ryan) is well conceived, with French windows leading into a split-level room, which is dominated by a full wall Caravaggio artwork. Well lit by Jon Buswell.

Back to the acting. Murray-Smith has created several VERY different characters, given them great lines and, backed by the superb casting, this show radiates. It is impossible to imagine a better cast or another laugh being squeezed out of this fast-paced comedy.

This is one of the funniest plays for a long time and it will be a sell-out, so get in quickly.