The Female of the Species at Melville Theatre

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Posted 2023-11-05 by groover ⇒ follow

Thu 30 Nov 2023 - Sat 09 Dec 2023

Madelaine Page plays Molly in The Female of the Species, a comedy based on a real-life incident involving feminist author Germaine Greer.

A comedy based on a real-life incident involving author Germaine Greer comes to life at Melville Theatre for its final season of the year. Written by Joanna Murray-Smith and directed by Lars Jensen, The Female of the Species is a satire about celebrity feminists.

Margot Mason is the author of the best-selling The Cerebral Vagina – but the academic and mother is struggling with her latest deadline. Idealistic student Molly Rivers, the daughter of Margot’s biggest fan, suddenly walks into the writer’s country house and turns her life upside down. First performed in 2006, the play is on the literature syllabus for Year 11 students in WA and Year 12 drama courses in the eastern states.

Tess {Nikki Di Camillo, left} tries to give Molly {Madelaine Page} a smashing time in The Female of the Species.

“The plot is loosely inspired by a real-life incident in 2000 when author Germaine Greer was held at gunpoint in her own home by a disturbed student,” Lars said. “The original director of The Female of the Species at Melville Theatre had to step aside for personal reasons and I was in the middle of the Australian outback when I was asked if I could step in.

“I wasn’t sure at first but, after reading the script by the campfire at Uluru, I was convinced. Having started work on the show, I’m happy I did agree to step in – it’s a very funny script and both myself and my wonderful cast are having so much fun during rehearsals.”

Madelaine Page, left, Tom Rees, Jake Lippo and Nikki Di Camillo, on couch, are appearing in The Female of the Species.

Acting from age 14, Lars’ life has revolved around theatre ever since – he has previously directed musicals at Melville and Stirling Theatres such as A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, A Chorus Line, Blood Brothers and Sweet Charity. In 2015, he directed the play Equus and scored nine nominations at the annual Finley Awards, winning runner-up best play, best actor in a play, best-supporting actress in a play and the Brenda Stanley Award for costumes. Lars has also been the theatre manager of Lady Wardle Performing Arts Centre at St Mary’s Anglican Girls’ School for the past 16 years.

“One of the reasons I wasn’t sure whether I should take on directing The Female of the Species was the very full schedule I have at the moment,” he said. “But my wife Vanessa thought it would be a great creative boost for me and she has stepped in to help out as the production manager and also with some of the rehearsals. Luckily enough, I trust my wife 100 per cent… maybe?”

Bryan {Tarek Jabado, right} tries to calm the situation with Molly {Madelaine Page} in The Female of the Species.

Playwright Murray-Smith told The Sydney Morning Herald more about her writing. “One of the good things about getting older is working out what you need for your equilibrium,” she said. “For some people, it’s about time, for some space, for some people it’s about friends or travel or whatever. I think for me writing is therapeutic.

“Even as an audience member I want to be encouraged to experience something that makes me think, but I don’t want to be told what to think. I’m very intolerant of anything didactic in art. I find ambiguity much more interesting. Not enough is said about entertainment – it’s almost an oppositional word to extending or illuminating or provoking.

Theo {Tom Rees} makes a point during The Female of the Species.

“It’s our job to imagine our way into people who aren’t us. And the process of writing is about investing invented people with our own humanity, both the flaws and strengths of who we are. And the audience will be the judge of whether we get it right or wrong.

“You have to train yourself to withstand the knocks and find the resilience… I have to keep in mind the thought… that audiences will love it. Whether that happens or not, you have to trick yourself as a writer to believe that or you’d never have the faith to do it.”

Molly {Madeleine Page} shows who’s in charge during The Female of the Species.

The Female of the Species plays on November 30, December 1, 2, 7, 8 and 9 with a 2pm matinee on December 3. Tickets are $23, $18 concession – book at www.TAZTix.com.au . Melville Theatre is at 393A Canning Highway (corner of Stock Road), Palmyra.