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Thoroughly modern Maddie
Fleabag
Birmingham Rep, Door
**** IN A thoughtful
and stirring account of what it means to be a modern woman, Fleabag by
Phoebe Waller-Bridge seeks to find the meaning of feminism today by
asking what it means to be a feminist via a snapshot of a young woman’s
frenzied, yet perfectly normal life. Waller-Bridge presents her views in a classic no
holds barred style. Along with the marvellous direction by Vicky Jones,
this funny depiction of everyday life breathes encouragement to women
everywhere. In this one woman show, the audience are
introduced and quickly get to know the nameless woman, played by Maddie
Rice on an exceptionally intimate level. The talented writer makes sure
her thoughts are clearly heard. She provokes a suggestive cause for
pleasant debate about women, but most importantly, their freedom of
choice in today’s modern world. Waller-Bridge’s refreshing and endearing opinions
shine through with a ground-breaking script. Throughout the piece, there
is a constant element of pride for the ability of people to make their
own decisions. This is wonderfully portrayed by the excellent
Maddie Rice. The deeper questions that Waller-Bridge allows the audience
to answer for themselves are how far these thoughts are agreed with. The women and of course men of the audience see a
character that is instantly relatable. With a great technique of
storytelling, Waller-Bridge presents a character of extreme
vulnerability, willing to admit past mistakes and even the consequences.
This raw human emotion connects the audience and performer on a truly
intimate level, thus allowing the writer’s thoughts to be deeply
digested. As a performer, Rice gives a deeply personal
account of a complex modern woman. With a plethora of stories ranging
from funny to the emotionally charged, Rice’s appliance towards the
character is a stunning reflection of how Waller-Bridge wants the
audience to see the ways in which the woman lives her life. The beauty of this portrayal shows that there is
no ‘typical woman’ in this world. The play gives way to accepting this
fact, no matter what actions a woman may decide to take. All in all, the piece makes a stunning point with
excellent writing and a sheer host of talent, with Waller-Bridges
stellar writing and Rice’s colourful approach to character. It is indeed
absolutely relevant to any audience because we can allow the piece to
nurture in our own minds. It asks what is feminism and what does it mean
to us as individuals? There is no one definite answer, but there
certainly is the strong suggestion of us all having the rightful power
to do as we please with the situation we have. To 17-01-15 Elizabeth Halpin
14-01-15
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