GRADS Top Girls at Stirling Theatre - Review

Post

Subscribe

Fri 05 Jul 2024 - Fri 19 Jul 2024

GRADS' current production is Top Girls by Caryl Churchill, written in 1982, and directed by Finley award-winning director Virginia Moore Price. This production is being staged at Stirling Theatre in Innaloo until the 19th of July. I was fortunate enough to go and be a part of the audience in the past few days. I am a fan of Virginia’s work, she likes to direct the different and the quirky moving away from the theatre norm, making anything she directs an experience to watch.

Top Girls centres on Marlene (Solonje Burns), a career-driven woman who is heavily invested in the success of women in business. Top Girls examines the roles available to women in old society, and what it means and takes for a woman to succeed. It also dwells on the cost of ambition and the influence of Thatcherite politics on feminism.



The show opens with an interesting dance sequence - including on stairs - with Marlene and what turns out to be two waitresses (Georgina Teakle and Giordana Marra,) before the whole stage opens up to a Chinese restaurant. Marlene is joined for dinner and drinks by numerous historical figures including Pope Joan (Sarah Plummer), Dull Gret (Jenny Howard) and Lady Nijo (Kelly Cleary).

This opening scene is not what you’d typically see at plays. The cast spends a great deal of time talking over each other, making much of what’s said a blur. The best bet for the scene is to just watch the cast and not worry too much about what’s said unless there’s only one person talking.

In the second scene, we are introduced to Marlene’s sister Joyce (Suzannah Churchman) and her daughter Angie (Emilia Lawonski), who are having normal mother/teenager issues. We then see Marlene at her work, interviewing ladies who are looking for jobs.

The play closes in the past. Angie has tricked Marlene into visiting her and Joyce, after a long absence. Joyce and Marlene get to drinking whiskey and fall into a heated argument where a BIG family secret is dropped.

It looked like customer Merri Ford had fun dressing all the ladies in the various 80s attire, which were sassy, cute and very appropriate for the time period. Credit also goes to the set team, designed by director Virginia, and constructed by Leigh Siragusa and Peter Bloor with set art painted by Kresna. I loved the selection of lanterns hanging in the restaurant during the first scene.

While Top Girls may not be everyone’s theatrical cup of tea, it is very fascinating to watch. The cast all were wonderful to watch and had great characterisations. There were also some great moments to laugh out loud. The lighting and sound helped to set the mood and the scenes, well done to everyone involved with this production. If you want to see something a bit different from the norm, this is likely to be the show for you.

Top Girls remaining show are at 7.30 pm on July 17, 18 and 19 at Stirling Theatre in Innaloo. Tickets priced at $30 adult, $25 concession, plus booking fee. Bookings can be made here.

#community_theatre
#drama
#stirling
#perth_north
#innaloo
#karrinyup
#dianella
#balga
#perth_theatre
#greater_perth
#near_perth
#rainy_day
#theatre
#theatres
#things_to_see
#unusual_things_to_do
#july
#arts_culture
#community
#theatre_shows
%wnperth