Enthusiasm not enough to save raunchy comedy

Twisted Magnolias
Etcetera Theatre
By David Weinberg

This in-your-face raunchy comedy fails to stimulate through an avalanche of cliché and stock one-dimensional characters.
Faulty design elements leave parts of the down stage area in shadow. Co-directors Jacqueline Malcolm and Josie Mills inadvertently choose to place their actors in the dark as they introduce themselves and the plot.
The fate of a brothel is in the hands of four prostitutes and an ex-priest who would undoubted struggle to collectively screw in a light bulb.
Spirited performances by the cast of eight are unfortunately insufficient to overcome this play’s pervasive shortcomings. The milieu of over-the-top melodrama combined with a marathon of raunchy dildo gags is overly predictable and ultimately uninteresting.
Having the same creative team as both co-authors and co-directors is always a difficult balance. This is especially true when the process is based around a flawed premise from the outset.
Exploiting shock value for the sake of generating cheap laughs is no substitute for a cohesive narrative.
Hannah-Jane Pawsey as Oolah provides a spark to the unbalanced ensemble of eight actors. While the cast play their roles with enthusiasm certain members have a very limited vocal and physical range.
The flats utilised for the set design are not properly reinforced and wobble when the cast touch them. Vagina and the rest of the prostitutes turn as many tricks as possible to raise enough money to save their brothel.
Ultimately the spectacle of murder and mayhem which ensues seems entirely too forced and is not enough to save uncreative play.

Until July 2nd
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