Because we are greedy for Twitter followers (follow us! @SqueamishBikini) we spend far too much time on our Twitter notifications page, just in case we miss something, y'know? We think it makes us appreciate a good Twitter handle all the more, so when @LadyParts_ started following us we were tickled. Because we can be base like that. But when we found out Lady Parts Theatre was interested in providing, well, more lady parts we were interested. The company is based in Liverpool and specialises creating and promoting more roles for women. The company states that: "Women have stories as rich and varied as the stories of men, the only difference - they are not being heard. This is not about sexism - this is about trying to create an even playing field for all theatre professionals to compete on. We work with both women and men at all stages of the process from writers to actors to stage crew."
The company's latest production Because She Loves the Lion tells the story of "a mother, her daughter, her sister and a mouse consumed by a lion with a beautiful mane." But this is not a story of cuddly toys and unlikely loves. Although cuddly toys do feature. Written by Laura-Kate Barrow the play confronts issues of domestic violence and its effect on a mother, her sister and her daughter.
The first thing you should know about this play is that there is an adult playing a child. As this fact dawned on me and my friend we both turned to each other and said in unison 'I hate seeing adults play children'. It's nearly always odd and the adult always portrays a demanding child whose - were this real - mental development you would seriously start to question. Or at the very least enroll them in speech therapy. While Nuala Maguire was guilty of this as 7 year old Millie she has perfected the fidgety movement of a child.
Domestic violence is a tricky subject to cover, especially in an hour. Keeping cast down to just three actors, with one character - the abusive husband - absent though mentioned, was a good way to keep a complicated and multi-faceted story simple.
The first thing you should know about this play is that there is an adult playing a child. As this fact dawned on me and my friend we both turned to each other and said in unison 'I hate seeing adults play children'. It's nearly always odd and the adult always portrays a demanding child whose - were this real - mental development you would seriously start to question. Or at the very least enroll them in speech therapy. While Nuala Maguire was guilty of this as 7 year old Millie she has perfected the fidgety movement of a child.
Domestic violence is a tricky subject to cover, especially in an hour. Keeping cast down to just three actors, with one character - the abusive husband - absent though mentioned, was a good way to keep a complicated and multi-faceted story simple.
| A mother tells the Aesop's fable of The Lion and the Mouse, she quickly goes 'off book' as they say and uses the story to explain why she still loves her husband and the father of her child, casting herself as the mouse and he as the lion. | the sisters argue over what a true relationship is and how love should be shown. |
As the mouse the mother believes she can save the lion again and again. However her sister believes it is she who needs saving. To compensate for her husband's excessive drinking and violent behaviour Ella over-protects her daughter, of course she cannot protect her from her destructive relationship.
The play was developed with advice from the charity Refuge, who provides help and assistance for women and children facing domestic abuse or violence. This is evident when we see the sisters argue over what a true relationship is and how love should be shown. The temptation to return, the guilt and the confusion over where to lay the blame.
The themes are sensitively addressed and it's not all misery and frustration. Both Nuala Maguire as the daughter and Sarah Keating as the feisty, protective sister Auntie Sally provide regular comic relief. It is a hard subject to approach and by having an all women cast the writer avoided triggers or violent scenes whilst still portraying the gravity of the situation.
Because of the subject matter and heterosexuality of the lead this play was never going to pass the Bechdel test. However I would be interested to see Lady Parts theatre produce some writing in which strong women discuss subjects other than men. I'm sure it will happen and I look forward to seeing it.
Squeamish Kate
You can catch Because She Loved the Lion at the Brighton Fringe until the 8th May; at The Kings Arms, Salford 1st June; at the Little Theatre, Chester 7th June
The play was developed with advice from the charity Refuge, who provides help and assistance for women and children facing domestic abuse or violence. This is evident when we see the sisters argue over what a true relationship is and how love should be shown. The temptation to return, the guilt and the confusion over where to lay the blame.
The themes are sensitively addressed and it's not all misery and frustration. Both Nuala Maguire as the daughter and Sarah Keating as the feisty, protective sister Auntie Sally provide regular comic relief. It is a hard subject to approach and by having an all women cast the writer avoided triggers or violent scenes whilst still portraying the gravity of the situation.
Because of the subject matter and heterosexuality of the lead this play was never going to pass the Bechdel test. However I would be interested to see Lady Parts theatre produce some writing in which strong women discuss subjects other than men. I'm sure it will happen and I look forward to seeing it.
Squeamish Kate
You can catch Because She Loved the Lion at the Brighton Fringe until the 8th May; at The Kings Arms, Salford 1st June; at the Little Theatre, Chester 7th June
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