Showing @ the GRV until Sat 11 Sep 19:30 to book tix click here
If Gok Wan is right (the decision is up to you) then every woman should have an outfit that makes them feel good about themselves, but why is it we feel the need for material possession in order to make ourselves complete? Tightlaced Theatre Company’s second anniversary production demonstrates how we place value in things first and morals second.
The Man (Andrew Henry) sends his wife (Danielle Farrow) to a psychologist in order to reconstruct their relationship. Things turn sour when it becomes apparent that she has brought something of immense power to the meeting, something that is full of lust, passion and leaves destruction in its path: her dress.
This red and silver attire obviously symbolises the suppression of desire as well as the need for women to feel empowered. Rob David’s script is beautifully poetic but also sharp to the point when he states beauty was “best reflected in the tears of another woman”, demonstrating the ever occurring need for women to get one over on each other in order to impress the men folk, whether its through material possessions or declaring ownership of people. Flavia D’Avila’s direction depicts the Latin flair of the original poem by Carlos Drummond de Andrade with the live music and stylised movement adding to the lustful atmosphere. Farrow’s transition between innocent housewife and whore was both engaging and comical, bouncing off Henry’s hapless Doctor and sleazy husband. The play’s real beauty is its ability to reflect the desires of both men and women and the struggles we all have in order to find our own identity. Modern society is telling us that the dress defines the women, and in this case it appears so, but the moral is that we need something more fulfilling and we must struggle until this is found.