Southwark Play House – until 17 February 2018. Reviewed by Brian Gordon
5*****
The Southwark Play House is a reclaimed urban unconventional space, creating what has become a reasonably conventional theatre space. With a bar and café and easy striking distance from the tube and bus it is well placed for a night out. Small enough to be intimate but large enough for a sizeable production. Pretty apt for the delivery of Jen Silverman’s Collective Rage, the story of women from all aspects of conventional New York society brought together by the The-a-tre…
Central to the story is the common ground that is the pussy, all these women have different levels of activity…in that area… but are, over the duration of the 85 minutes of delivery drawn closer and closer. Each Betty is steadily introduced before being entwined with the mealy of the other Betties. Directed by Charlie Parham each Betty demonstrates their own relative rage and takes you on the path towards their nirvana, whether consciously or not, each Beatty needs to be somewhere else in their life and the rage is a symptom of their needs.
As clearly understood by Betty 3 played by Beatriz Romilly, the The-a-tre is very cultural, but for $85 can be rewarding, and inspiring to change the direction of your life. Betty 4 (Johnnie Fiori) has other ideas of what is cultural and worth $85… but none so clear as Betty 5’s (Genesis Lynea) ideal that prison is enough. Plenty of activities and a great place to meet new friends. Betty 1 performed by Sara Stewart is the pivot of the simplistic rage created by a relationships neglect, however Betty 2 (Lucy McCormack) goes on the wildest and most adventurous journey. This is clearly not impressive to Betty 3 who clarifies this as she pejoratively explains to her that looking at her pussy in Betty 3’s living room does not mean she can participate in The-a-tre…!
When 60% of your Betties end up not being Betties and your No2 belts out a guitar solo in the role of a lonely lion that is actually your own Pussy you know this in nothing like a conventional story line. Credit must be given to Nichola Treherne for some great choreography over a 3 dimensional space.
The play cleverly develops the Betties from stereotypes through further stereotypes until transcendence beyond and into a collective. Using theatre in The-a-tre to show that, ultimately language and performance are powerful and that to listen carefully and see are lost skills in yourself as much as others. Take yourself on a date and see if you love yourself…but don’t forget your pussy needs to go on the date too.