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Hilarious unconventional rom-com with a cast having a blast. Summary
Rating
Good
Finborough Theatre provides the European premiere for this unconventional Australian rom-com. Banging Denmark is a refreshing comedy looking at life and love and sex through a prism of online trolls, pickup artists and incels. The basic concept- a misogynist deciding that the feminist he sued is the only person who can help him bang the hot librarian that he can barely utter two words to- is hilarious!
Jake Newhouse (Tom Kay) has a double life. By day, he’s a successful management consultant, but by night, he transforms into Guy De Witt: a pickup artist and all-round misogynist who runs a podcast for incels where he ‘teaches’ them to treat women poorly in an effort to get them into bed. Jake has had a run-in with Ishtar Madigan (Rebecca Blackstone), a lecturer in feminist studies. He sued her, and she ended up having to settle out of court for all of her money. Now, she lives in hiding, fearing De Witt’s online followers, tucked away next to the photocopier in her office. When Jake meets and falls for cool Danish librarian Anne (Maja Simonsen) but gets nowhere with any of his lines, he decides that the one person who can help with this- the one person who holds the key to allow him to ahem ‘bang Denmark’- is Ishtar, and he is prepared to pay heavily for her assistance! Hijinks ensue!
Along the way, we meet Ishtar’s former student, Dr Denyse Kim (Jodie Tyack) and Toby (James Jip), her friend who is not-so-secretly in love with her. As their paths cross with De Witt and his misogynist life goals, the impact on them brings yet more comedy, showing that life and love can be complex in other ways too.
Katy Mo and Leah Kelly‘s clever set design mirrors two contrasting locations: De Witt’s unkempt flat juxtaposed with Ishtar’s dishevelled office hideaway, with a pristine white librarian stand at centre stage to represent the fantasy world and serve as a physical divider between the two.
Van Badham‘s script is funny, with a lot of laughter rolling around the room and a cast well up for diving into this and mining the laughs. Much of the laughter is tinged with outrage, as the sheer absurdity of pickup artists’ tactics- insulting, demeaning, and belittling women- becomes apparent. There is great pay-off and satisfaction when Ishtar turns the tables, employing De Witt’s own methods against him with hilarious results. The humour is mixed with social commentary and satire, showcasing a slow, skilful change from outright mocking the pickup artist to, at times, sympathising with him on his journey.
Sally Woodcock‘s direction maintains a brisk pace, ensuring there’s never a dull moment, with laughter coming thick and fast. Thanks to superb casting all around, Banging Denmark neatly sands off any potential rough edges. Tom Kay, in particular, shoulders a significant workload, rising admirably to the challenge of portraying Jake/De Witt as more than just a detestable misogynist. Interestingly, Kay’s performance subtly hints at regret for DeWitt’s actions. Is the money he lavishes on Ishtar a form of guilt repayment? This layer of complexity adds depth to the character and the narrative. No matter the joke, no matter the content, the script and this excellent cast’s delivery inject nuance throughout. An evening that leaves audiences filing out with a smile on their faces and perhaps a stitch in their sides.
Written by Van Badham
Directed by Sally Woodcock
Set Design by Katy Mo and Leah Kelly
Banging Denmark plays at Finborough Theatre until 11 May. Further information and tickets can be found here.
