Printable CopySHADOWS OF ANGELS
Bakehouse Theatre
Until 03 Mar 2012

Review by Emma Size

“Shadows of Angels” is faultless.

In a small black room at the Bakehouse Theatre, the lives of four gritty femmes fatale in 1929 are interwoven in a series of emotionally-charged, riveting monologues. Chris Saxton directs a show that astounds with its technical brilliance, whilst also making you physically ill at its graphic portrayal of abortions and prostitution. Saxton’s direction and Fleur Murphy’s descriptive screenplay combine to create an intense sensory experience, in which the audience is transported to a dirty, disgusting underworld that feels far from fiction.

The exceptional ensemble of the Good Femme (Kara Stacey Merrin), Old Femme (Rosemary Johns), Man Femme (H. Clare Callow) and Pretty Femme (Erin Dewar) are terrifyingly, nauseatingly, and heartbreakingly real. All four women are outstanding in their roles, exposing the vulnerability and strength of women in poverty, violence, crime and their sexuality.

Merrin’s lighting design is very fitting for the play and allows a bare stage to transform into various different settings. Murphy’s period costuming is also very appropriate with excellent attention to detail.

This phenomenal play reveals that the reality of women in the underworld is a far cry from the glamorous femmes fatale of Hollywood. This is an extremely powerful and moving show relevant to all adults, although please be aware that the graphic exploration of issues of abortion, violence and prostitution may be overly distressing to some viewers.

Rating: 5 stars (out of 5)