Fefu and her Friends

I've been part of the FOH (for those of you theatre-illeterate people that stands for Front Of House) crew for "Fefu and her Friends" directed by the OH-SO talented Tracy Holsinger the past few days. I've set up the chairs, stacked them up again, switched on lights, and ushered a group of the crowd around. I've thoroughly enjoyed myself.

Talking about the play itself - the octa-women (I'm coining my own words again) cast is super-talented. I have drawn some favourites though - Karen's performance is mind-rivetingly raw and plays her part with such painful beauty, it is just amazing. I've never seen Ruwanthi act before and I don't know her personally, but I like her acting very much. It's very personal and watching her doesn't even for a split-micro-mini second remind you that you are watching her actually act - it's very realistic and AARGH! I can't put a finger on it nor can I think of words to describe it. Even Ruhanie - she has such a heap of charisma and such a wonderful stage presence - it just makes you smile to watch her at it especially when storms on stage - in full charge of her surrounding with that ever-so memorable line - "Do you think about genitals all the time?"

The lighting provided by Ryan Holsinger aka The Light and the music were just brilliant not forgetting Akhry's BRILLIANCE at making wonderful things like this happen.

The setting - Barefoot, me thinks is the best possible choice for this play - as it is promenade theatre after all. It's almost as if - Barefoot had been made specially for Fefu and her friends. It draws just the right atmosphere, the ambience, a slight personal and privy touch.

I guess what I've been ranting about all this time just boils down to the fact that the combination is one made in what I call "The Land of RIGHT".

The play most interestingly is set in 1935 - and many, many years later [do the math people] in 2005 - women haven't changed. The play itself is an extremely provocative statement about women to this day.

The play primarily deals with 8 women; their relationships with men, other women and with each other. And even today - the manner in which women are connected to each other and men are completely different. I admit men are less complicating and even though most of us women wouldn't admit it - we are more comfortable in the presence of our male friends as opposed to our girl friends.

Fefu says she likes men better than women, and finds women loathsome.

Fefu and her friends is slightly disturbing as it borders on raw emotions and statements that some of us would not be willing to admit so openly and I guess that is precisely what I like about it so much.

It is impossible to put into words the emotions that this play conjured up but, in an attempt to do exactly that these words just might do the trick: unsettling, honest, raw, disturbing, brilliant!