Review: The Beatles Were A Boy Band, EdFringe

Gilded Balloon Patter Hoose

Review: The Beatles Were A Boy Band, EdFringe

Summary

Rating

80

Excellent

A colorful and carefully constructed reflection of women's experiences of gendered violence, climaxing in a direct call to action against the roots of the collective trauma

The Beatles Were A Boy Band (TBWABB) is by Rachel O’Regan, who has already had one critically acclaimed play, Afterparty with feminist theatre company, F-Bomb Theatre. TBWABB continues from where that play left off, delivering a fun, colourful but also subtle reflection of women’s experiences of gendered violence, and the sense of overwhelming futility in a world that dangles activism as a solution for women, while allowing men to let sleeping dogs lie.

The show meets the cast in wake of a tragedy, following how it changes them and the lens through which they see the world. The script does a carefully choreographed tightrope walk, making sure to not sink too deep into the melancholy and rage that such a candid look at gendered violence rightfully inspires in both its direct victims and those who are witness to it. Comedic relief is offered tastefully when needed, breaking up the tension and maintaining pace, ensuring the play keeps its careful balance of being entertaining while also confronting the viewer with powerful, horrifying subject matter. At times the script sacrifices natural sounding dialogue and smooth flowing conversation, to instead deliver a line or remark beyond the fifth wall.

Each of the cast portrays an empathetic personification of reactions to the collective trauma they face. Kirsten Hutchinson’s display of cynicism, as Heather, at first seems one dimensional, but as the play goes on her every tone change and raised word brings out the internal struggle with her prior experiences, and makes it impossible not to empathize. Sally Cairns’ performance as Violet similarly does a great job of bringing to life the inner turmoil of trying to balance the need to resist and challenge the forces that make them feel attacked with, ultimately, just wanting to be safe. Her pragmatism and direct action throughout the play highlight the desire of women to take their lives into their own hands, feeling that the state and civil society has little to no problem with their lives being threatened constantly.

However, Melissa Macnaught is the standout for the entire play. Melissa elevates the character from the script into a truly gripping manifestation of feminist rage. She displays a thoroughly impressive range, selling a transition from viewcount-obsessed stardom, to an endless display of passion, anger and hope as she tries to use her fame and social capital to improve things through activism, but quickly discovers the futility of petitions and carefully crafted speeches to an indifferent society.

Gilded Balloon Patter Hoose provides a fitting venue. Though not small, it still keeps the audience close to the stage, where the set does a terrific job of rooting you to the much loved, slightly messy flat you’d expect any group of young friends to have. The director (Kolbrún Björt Sigfúsdóttir) does an admirable job of keeping the play from replaying trauma for the sake of it, as well as making the audience feel safe to explore these themes, while still directly inciting action.

TBWABB is written to hold a mirror to the lived experience of women, primarily for the benefit of men, and then to demand that we all (but especially men or those with social capital) do our bit to highlight and challenge the reality of late walks home with keys clutched between fingers, and the seemingly omnipresent patriarchal forces that create a lot of the fear that women rightly feel of men. It strikes the right balance in its analysis of the roots of violence and patriarchy, choosing to focus on showing the audience to the experience of women worldwide, and using this to fuel a drive to action from those who often sit idly by, while fear grips so many of us.

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Written by: Rachel O’Regan
Produced by: F-Bomb Theatre

The Beatles Were A Boy Band plays Gilded Balloon Patter Hoose for EdFringe 2023 until 27 August. Further information can be found here.