This was an inventive and well produced theatre adaption of Pip Williams’ novel of the same name. I came to it with only a vague awareness of the feminist themes but left pleasantly entertained if somewhat tired due to the phenomenally uncomfortable seating in the Dunstan Playhouse.

Coincidentally before the play, Paul and I had had dinner at Adelaide Unibar and walked past a new statue of Fay Gale on the grounds. In the play, Fay is revealed as the daughter of the central (and fictional) character Esme. This was a nice closing accent but in some ways, drew attention to what was probably a slightly overstuffed production that at times felt both too long and too rushed.

The acting itself was very “theatrical”. I don’t know how else to describe it, but accents were exaggerated and mannerisms tended toward flamboyance. I know if I saw the same performances in a movie, I would probably find it a bit over the top.

The stage design was extremely clever and comprised of two levels. The lower half was a back lit grid of square pigeon holes with an integrated staircase, while the upper was a large projection screen. This part served as a dynamic backdrop for title cards that introduced the various locations throughout the story. In one powerful scene, this was used to highlight the face of the central character during childbirth.

Overall, a nice night out at the theatre but I really hope they improve the seating sometime in the future!