Cake at Metro Arts

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Wed 06 Nov 2024 - Sat 16 Nov 2024

Cake is a Deliciously Executed Saucy Satirical Sally

The 18th-century Austrian Queen of France, Marie Antoinette, famously lost her head over the phrase 201clet them eat cake 201d during the French Revolution, but did she really say it? Cake by Daniel Gough and Emma Churchland is a saucy satirical sally into the Royal Court of Louis XVI and Antoinette, where the audience are the courtiers, bearing witness to the scandalous shenanigans of the idle rich.

Emma Churchland is the founder and CEO of IMRSE Theatre Company, the Company in Residence at Metro Arts. Churchland and Artistic Director Dan Gough with Stage Director Kasey Turner, have updated the history of the Age of Enlightenment, with the raunchy sexual permissiveness and threats from the dreadful cancel culture of the 21st century, into a hilarious high-octane romp.



Meg Ham is the vivacious vixen Therese, who acts as the host and spin doctor, breaking the fourth wall to involve the audience in the salacious slander of Antoinette. She is enigmatic and dangerous, dressed to kill in pink crinoline complete with bubblegum heels and a whopping wig. Ham wears many hats (as well as wigs), having been a producer on reality shows Survivor and Old People 2019s Home for Four-Year-Olds.

Samantha LeClaire plays a very different Marie Antoinette from the usual domineering character, allowing Therese to bully and cajole her for publicity and notoriety whilst relishing the excessive privileges of the Court. They form a synergetic pair with a hilarious repartee that develops as the character evolves amidst the mayhem of orgies and tea parties.



Her poor, effeminate husband, King Louis XVI, played effectively by Calum Johnston, avoids and scapegoats Antoinette with the aid of Therese whilst the French Revolution rages in Paris. An ensemble of six generates the energy with pumping dance moves and lewd behaviour as Antoinette is encouraged to 201cstuff her muff with tea cake! 201d

The basic set is a simple tiered cake-like stand surrounded by the audience on three sides, with a background of heads on poles. It works well to encourage audience participation, including cheering "Huzzah" when the word is illuminated, as valued members of the Court. The audience is handed props and thoroughly involved in the play, with some clever asides and witty banter from Theresa. The costumes are fabulous with the whole cast in hues of bright pink.

Cake is adult only as it is lewd and rude with a little bit of nude. You will also think differently about drinking milk after a saucy scene with a cow 2019s udder. It is brilliantly written and executed (sorry) with a nod to the ridiculousness of Shakespeare, including having a play within a play, and I particularly enjoyed the many witticisms such as 201cshove it up your arse Les Miserables! 201d

Cake is hilarious, thoroughly entertaining, and a must-see. It offers witty commentary on the historical 2018facts 2019 surrounding the French Revolution; prudes need not attend!

Hear from the artists here.

Tickets are selling fast from $39-$45 for evening shows at 7.30 pm from 6th-16th November 2024.
Book here.

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