Feminah
Feminah is a cabaret piece about the vulgar women of the world; the women that
embrace all things trashy and beastly and that celebrate their
intrinsically hideous selves. It is a power ballad for women too scared to
unleash the beast within and let her wreak havoc.
Feminah follows
one woman on a war-path to dismantle every structure set in place to keep
her calm and appropriate; she's here to destroy the town, and maybe take
you with it.
A solo show created by Perth's staunchly seductive
powerhouse Charlotte Otton, Feminah is an ode to women that censor
themselves for the sake of being professional, tasteful or -- heaven
forbid -- cute. This explosion of gritty femininity is what happens when a
woman refuses the idea of 'having it all' and instead, annihilates it.
Feminah is a celebration of women, an exploration of femininity, and a middle finger to the patriarchy.
Local emerging theatre maker Charlotte Otton takes you on a journey through some of the major milestones in feminist history, embellished with personal narrative, song, and sharp social commentary.
What is striking about Otton’s work is her ability to balance broader sociohistorical contexts alongside deeply personal experiences.
She uses the history of the feminist movement as a kind of map – an anchor point that allows her to share intimate stories about sex, body image, and growing up in a world that hypersexualises girls from a young age.
These are stories that echo those of many women before her and undoubtedly, many to follow.
The resonant cheers, laughs, and even tears from the audience are testament to Otton’s success in capturing what it can mean to exist as a woman today.
I found myself at several points during the show, nodding my head in complete agreeance at what was being said, or laughing hysterically at Otton’s willingness to overtly disclose some of the painfully embarrassing common female experiences.
This is the kind of show that as a woman, leaves you feeling empowered, understood, and less alone.
Aptly described as, “what happens when a woman refuses the idea of ‘having it all’ and instead, annihilates it”, Feminah is unforgettable and a must-see for this FRINGE WORLD season.