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Synopsis: Once you've reached the heady heights of becoming an AFL footballer’s girlfriend, there’s only one place left to go – the Brownlow. |
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| REVIEW or FEATURE ARTICLE | ||
| Review by Richard Evans for Stage Left Following the exploits of two women, Fran and Jane, Footy Chicks presents a clever take on the culture surrounding AFL. At the play's outset, Fran has a football player boyfriend. Her friend Jane is eager to snare a date with a player in order to be invited to the Brownlow Medal presentation. Both characters are presented as complex people, though there are elements of character for comic affect. The piece is divided into sections covering everything from attendance at a training session, to how to deal with the inevitable football rip, to the rules for dating a footballer. This makes for a well-paced show, momentum building as the play progresses towards a Brownlow climax. Rather than being cliched, the various segments play with audience expectations and provide a number of plot twists. The nightclub sequence is a good example of a familiar scenario treated in a fresh manner. Clever direction and staging magnify the humour. Fiona Harris and Katrina Mathers are excellent in the roles of Fran and Jane, creating a wonderful Odd Couple type relationship. They are also recipients of a 2003 Moosehead Award. Based on the quality of writing and performance in Footy Chicks, they will be well worth watching in the future. Footy Chicks also tackles themes of gender in sport, without diluting the satirical take on football. the second half is replete with witty observations regarding the status of women in AFL. There's an inherent tension in being a female follower of a sport one cannot play above amateur level. This is explored in the course of the play, and provides the context for more than a few funny lines. The references to football personalities and situations are general enough, that those with just a fleeting knowledge of football will enjoy Footy Chicks. This show is also an antidote to the macho posturing which frequently accompanies coverage of the AFL. It's funny, entertaining and well worth seeing. |
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(c) Long Shot Film Entertainment. Contact the Webmaster Page last updated: 6 August, 2004
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