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AbstractHistoryArchive Description
'Thirty years ago Margot Mason, pioneer of the 1970s Women's Liberation movement and fearless academic, wrote her groundbreaking work and numerous best-sellers followed. Now she has writer's block. Molly, an unannounced visitor and committed fan of Margot and her work, offers a potential solution - until Molly produces a gun and calmly informs Margot that she intends to kill her because she blames her for warping her mother's mind and ruining her life with her hit book The Cerebral Vagina.
'Joanna Murray-Smith's deliciously wicked comedy deftly walks the tightrope between satire and farce proving the female of the species is not only deadlier, but funnier than the male.
This play 'was inspired by Germaine Greer's experience of being held captive in her country house in Essex in 2000'. (Publisher's blurb)
Production Details
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First produced by the Melbourne Theatre Company at the Arts Centre, Melbourne, 26 August to 30 September 2006. Season directed by Patrick Nolan with Sue Ingleton in the lead role.
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First produced in the United Kingdom at the Vaudeville Theatre, London, 16 July - 4 October 2008. Directed by Roger Michell with Eileen Atkins in the lead role.
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Season due to be produced in the United States of America (USA) in 2008. However the play was first produced in the USA at the Geffen Playhouse, Los Angeles, 10 February - 14 March, 2010. Directed by Randall Arney with Annette Bening in the lead role.
Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of
Works about this Work
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You Can't Please All of the People All of the Time
2010
single work
column
— Appears in: The Sydney Morning Herald , 13 April 2010; (p. 9) -
Melbourne Playwright Named for London Prize
2009
single work
column
— Appears in: The Age , 5 February 2009; (p. 15) -
Playing against the Odds
2009
single work
column
— Appears in: The Age , 28 February 2009; (p. 17-18) -
Theatrics Leave All but Greer Amused
2008
single work
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— Appears in: The Age , 18 July 2008; (p. 7) -
Germaine Lacks Humility
2008
single work
correspondence
— Appears in: The Australian , 15 July 2008; (p. 13)
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The Female of the Species
2006
single work
review
— Appears in: The Sunday Age , 10 September 2006; (p. 35)
— Review of The Female of the Species 2006 single work drama -
Untitled
2006
single work
review
— Appears in: Herald Sun , 1 September 2006; (p. 89)
— Review of The Female of the Species 2006 single work drama -
Intruder Ransacks Feminist Agenda
2006
single work
review
— Appears in: The Australian , 1 September 2006; (p. 19)
— Review of The Female of the Species 2006 single work drama -
Two Women Matching Wits
2006
single work
review
— Appears in: The Age , 29 August 2006; (p. 14)
— Review of The Female of the Species 2006 single work drama -
Girls Who Wanna Have Fun
2008
single work
review
— Appears in: The Sunday Mail , 3 February 2008; (p. 14)
— Review of The Female of the Species 2006 single work drama -
Melbourne Playwright Delights in Symmetry of Star Bening's Broadway Return for Her Comedy
2007
single work
column
— Appears in: The Age , 16 June 2007; (p. 3) -
Annette Bening Set to Revisit Broadway after Two Decades
2007
single work
column
— Appears in: The New York Times , 15 June 2007; (p. 2) -
Hostage to the F-Word
2006
single work
column
— Appears in: Herald Sun , 30 August 2006; (p. 51) -
Feminism's Farcical Side
2006
single work
column
— Appears in: Sunday Herald Sun , 27 August 2006; (p. 18) -
Feminism,: You Just Have to Laugh
2007
single work
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— Appears in: The Advertiser , 22 September 2007; (p. 8)
Awards
- 2009 nominated Olivier Awards — Best New Comedy Nominated for the 2008 UK production at the Vaudeville Theatre.