Umbrella Works has put on this stylish little production created by and starring Rachel Foucar and Angela Leta Kaye who work beautifully together.

The basic set up is that Jen (Rachel) and Bridget (Angela) are two characters in a long-running soap style saga but with minor ‘b plot’ roles in the ongoing storyline.  Jen is the ambitious journalist who lives for her job and casual sex, and Bridget the seemingly demure housewife, mother, and spouse of the mayor of Quaintsville.  Jan arrives at Bridget’s doorstep to write a piece on the theme of ‘who is the woman behind the powerful man?’  And all sorts of things develop from there.

The plot gradually gets more and more outrageous and the relationship between the actresses also develops with both coming to realise they can help each other to find themselves.

There is a strong feminist theme with the story satirizing the stereotypes of the career woman set against the home-making housewife and mother.  What adds to the fun is that from time to time Rachel and Angela burst into song.  

And then there are the commercial breaks which are a hoot, advertising some ridiculous products which are scarily close to reality.

Rachel and Angela seem to have a lot of fun developing Bridget and Jen to the point of caricature.  The interplay between them works very well and they convincingly inhabit their characters.

It’s a crazy mixed-up plot with plenty of laughs along the way and great energy from Rachel and Angela. 

This sort of exciting new production is the lifeblood of FRINGE WORLD.  It’s great to see what is happening at the creative edge of live theatre.