Searching on Google for the company’s website, the tagline underneath their already quite unforgettable name states it to be the ‘virtual home of the UK’s most ignored performance collective’: perhaps a sign of their very individual form of ‘anti-theatre’ that is to come. Describing themselves as making work that is ‘unique and genre-bending’, audiences must prepare themselves to experience an intoxifying blend of theatre, dance, comedy music, art, unexpected OTT visual elements…and general silliness (which should perhaps read ‘toxifying’ - depending on your point of view).
Their new show ‘Little Wimmin’ is an adaptation of - yes, you guessed it - Louisa May Alcott’s classic novel about the four March sisters: Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy, coming of age in 19th Century Massachusetts while living in genteel poverty. Ok, so adaptation is probably too strong a word. The show basically picks out somewhat spurious elements of the original novel (ie: Meg’s obsession with gloves; Jo resisting her female identity wanting instead to be a combination of man and horse; Amy hating her nose, and Beth, living up to our age old expectations of… dying); actors appearing in film adaptations (specifically Margaret O’Brien who played Beth in the 1949 version); the director of the most recent 2019 version (Greta Gerwig deliberately re-imagined as Thunberg) and Alcott’s star-sign (Sagittarius - hence the hiring of an astrologer as opposed to an acting coach. But of course!)
After a startlingly engaging 20 minute introduction featuring five performers floating a foot off the ground sporting wild cotton woollen wigs, advising us that we were to be treated to ‘a cosmic event that will smooth over fictional cracks’ (whilst being promised that patriarchy and climate change would both be central features…as in all ‘acceptable’ contemporary theatre) this was then broken with an immediate 20 minute interval to presumably encourage people to return to the bar and get themselves tanked up in preparation for what was to come. For some of those left seated, it did kind of break the momentum to have a huge set and costume change so early on in the show, however.
The show on the road again, and for the next hour and 20 minutes we were treated to a series of chaotic, anarchic, eye popping sequences that covered all of the aforementioned genres, character traits and more; beginning with a thrash metal sequence, with the words ‘Beth Dies’ flashing in neon. Suitably attired in the corsetry and hoop skirts befitting of the period (with the exception of the fifth performer who played a key stage prop - no need for a spoiler alert here), we were witness to the March sisters’ Christmas morning where the charity-bound breakfast spread was accidently devoured by Amy; presents were received (copies of ‘Eat Pray Love’ - with many witty references made to Elizabeth Gilbert’s book-turned-into-film); and the essences of the four characters gradually distilled into ludicrous parodies of themselves. A phallic ice sculpture featured heavily, helping to both prepare them for a much anticipated party as well as plotting their downfall; plus a Christmas tree rendition of ‘Driving Home For Christmas’; the extensive wobbling of a jelly; an orange-wigged dance sequence that unashamedly mocked much of the contemporary dance seen at a well-known venue located in the north of the city; and a cocktail-making demonstration like no other that will be forever etched in my mind.
There were many in the audience who laughed hysterically throughout the entire show, with barely a pause for breath - which is fair enough, as this was silliness-come-slapstick-come-self-effacing lunacy all wrapped up in a ridiculous bundle of ‘tackiness and trashiness’ (in their own words). In parts it was very clever… and indeed charismatic, with a zesty visual dimension of extreme costumes, set, props and video. There were times for me though that the silliness got a bit repetitive and even occasionally tedious (not including the first or last 20 minutes which are worth your time in themselves). Depending on your sense of humour though, you will either love this show and want to spend the rest of the month following the intrepid five around the country; or will simply retreat in exhausted recovery to the bar to order their Margarita, aka ‘Margaret’ special. Reviewer - Georgina Elliott on - 13/3/22
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