This Week in the Theatre Scene: Women Power (12-18 August)

Road trip!

Wings and Revenge of the Amazons [by James Wenley]

This week promises plenty of strong roles for some talented actresses in two plays:

PICK ONE: Wings

Actually set in a car, not a plane. Must be a metaphor.
Actually set in a car, not a plane. Must be a metaphor.

Who wrote it?: Jess Sayer. She’s a young playwright that I admire, but with only one produced play to her credit (the Auckland Fringe favourite Elevator) she’s not too widely known amongst non-industry people. She looks darkness straight in the face with her writing, and its often filled with shocks along the way.  Jess is a two-times winner of Playmarket’s B4 25 competition.
Who’s putting it on? Junket Theatre Company, formed by a few inaugural graduates of the actor’s program.
Who’s in it? Jess Sayer herself, with Simea Holland and Darlene Mohekey.
What’s it about? Three sisters – a vegan, a teacher, a black sheep – are reunited after the death of their mother, and embark on the road trip “we never wanted to take”.
The Gimmick: Jess’ last play had the characters stuck in an elevator… this time, they are stuck in the car. I caught a reading of the play earlier in the year, and I look forward to seeing how director Jordan Selwyn uses this dramatic conceit.
Where? The Basement Studio. This week only, Wed 14-Sat 17 August, 7pm.
Tickets: Bargain $12.50-15 tickets. See iTICKET.

PICK TWO: Revenge of the Amazons

"It’s dirty!"
“It’s dirty!”

Who wrote it? NZ playwright Jean Betts. It originally debuted in 1983.
Who’s putting it on? Female Company, who are all about juicy roles for women.
What’s it about? A subversive and comic adaption of Midsummer Night’s Dream,  from a feminist point of view.
Pithy Theatre Scenes interview quote: “That’s the other thing about feminism… we want to say it doesn’t matter what kind of woman you are, but that you’re acceptable. We want to show that yes woman can be fierce sexual beings, and shouldn’t be ridiculed for it. And there’s a lot of hilarious sexual innuendo. We’ve got our Bottom equivalent named Barbara, who doesn’t get turned into an ass, but into a playboy bunny.” (from our preview article on Revenge of the Amazons with the Directors).
Where? Ponsonby Baptist Church. Yes. And there will be lots of bras all over the place apparently. Wed 14 – Sun 18th, 7:30pm.
Tickets: $15-20 from iTICKET

 Also this week... 2013 SWANZ Best Play finalist Motel and Funeral Home comedy Balmy at the Basement, and the opening of Silo’s Speaking in Tongues.

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