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A story of female defiance in times of war.Summary
Rating
Good
A Soldier’s Woman is a musical drama that tells the story of lovers Maude and Flo (otherwise known as Jack). The two ladies are rebellious and unrestrained in the face of patriarchal violence, landing themselves in trouble and on the run. This is a story of queer women, gender non-conformity, and existence on the fringes of society, centred around female protagonists, which at times lacks fine-tuning.
The show consists of a mixture of songs and narrative, and in depicting scenes from small town life, including city streets and gossipy brothels, it calls to mind other musicals such as Les Misérables and Sweeney Todd. While the instrumental performances are strong, it feels at times that vocals could use some polishing. A testament to the talent of the musicians is a vocal and dance piece executed while playing the accordion, which is something of a highlight. Another technical success is the use of interesting costume, including beautifully layered skirts and corsets, as well as scarlet soldiers’ coats.
While the themes of the story are strong and there is always space for more queer representation on stage, the narrative feels as if lacking nuance in its progression; the introduction darts from sexual coercion, to seduction, to murder in rapid succession, leaving little time to build emotional investment. The relationship between Maude and Flora is acted with joy and tenderness, however initial dialogue between the two left me with a lingering lack of conviction. Perhaps their bond is as simple as love at first sight, but this is unclear and the production would benefit from offering greater underlying motivation for why the two are drawn together; they may both be on the run, but it would add depth to explore why they find themselves in love.
The character of Flora, alias Jack, is a particularly interesting figure and unusual for an historical performance. Showing her to be in relationships with both men and women, as well as dressing in men’s clothing, A Soldier’s Woman explores what queer life could look like in centuries gone by. The play also highlights manipulation and abuse faced by its female characters: Maude mistreated by her father, working women jilted by their lovers, and Flora faced with violence by a fling. Between this and the brutality of the war – with which the male characters are preoccupied – the story sheds a light on the opportunity for liberation that performative and female-dominated spaces have to offer.
After various twists and turns, the production ends with a reunion between the two lovers. Maude has become a mother; the two form a non-conventional family, with the pregnancy presented as an opportunity to bring them closer together, rather than a blight on Maude’s womanhood. However, this is one of a number of plot points that seem to come out of nowhere and could do with more light shed on them. What exactly happened? Who is the father, and what was the nature of this relationship outside the overarching love story? I left the theatre feeling predominantly confused by the events of the show, although given time to reflect, my appreciation for the themes and innovation of the production has grown.
A Soldier’s Woman explores what it means to be a woman in a harsh male-dominated world; not only that, but to be queer, and to love in a time of war, which is an interesting approach to take. With beautiful costuming and musical performances, the Amazonia Music Theatre Company has certainly spun a new twist on the Victorian-era musical.
Written, directed and composed by Jude Alderson
Produced by: Amazonia Music Theatre Company
A Soldier’s Woman has completed its current run.
