The Female of the Species

Synopsis

Margot Mason, a blocked writer, is confronted by Molly Rivers, a deranged former student who appears at her home with a gun and handcuffs Mason to her desk.

Our Review:

17 July 2008

Roger Michell’s production of Australian dramatist Joanna Murray-Smith’s The Female of the Species opens more than promisingly, with Eileen Atkins struggling to remove her bra while answering the telephone and toying with titles for her next feminist tome – would “The Utopian Fallopian” give “Madame Ovary” a run for its money? – on a seductively picturesque design by Mark Thompson.

Dame Eileen plays Margot Mason, a once liberated writer and teacher who finds herself trapped in her country retreat by a former student – Anna Maxwell Martin walks in as Molly and spouts the play’s title as a suggestion – seeking idolatrous revenge.

Germaine Greer, who was once similarly cornered by a deranged student in her Essex cottage, has taken offence and dubbed Murray-Smith an insane reactionary, though she has neither read nor seen a play which could be viewed as an inverted companion piece to Murray-Smith’s Honour (at the National ...

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Latest User Review

Sycamore Flint - 29 September 2008:

This tale of a feminist establishment writer held hostage by an aggrieved former student brushes lightly against some interesting issues without troubling any of them too much. A deeper look at any one of them - icon worship, gullibility, blame culture, male/female "roles" - might have yielded something more substantial. All the same, it's an entertaining 100 minutes with some good laughs. Sophie Thompson's performance has been overpraised, I reckon - it's good, but a bit overcooked. As has been mentioned, some of Eileen Atkins's reactions are great to watch. Everyone seems to be set up as a villain of sorts, then presented as quite sympathetic, resulting in them all coming out of it fairly well, which underlines the lightness of the piece. For an undemanding afternoon or evening, probably worth a go, especially if you can get a deal. Note - no interval....

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