BWW Reviews: Geraldine Quinn's Account of Her Life As a MODERN DAY MAIDEN AUNT Blends Honesty, Humor A Few Home Truths

Tuesday 16h June 2015, 6:30pm, Hayes Theatre, Potts Point

Drawing on personal experience as a childless Aunt to her 19 nieces and nephews, Geraldine Quinn shares an honest and insightful account of her thoughts on being a MODERN DAY MAIDEN AUNT.

In high cabaret style, Quinn appears in black satin fishtail dress and coat with black feathers adorning her piles of red curls. The stage is simply set with a microphone and a small table with a family photo of the 19 offspring of her brothers and sisters. With no band present, all backing music is pre-recorded allowing a fuller tone than would possibly be feasible in the space.

Quinn challenges society's norms as she shares observations of how she has been treated by friends and family for not having children and the fact that some can only see her as an underutilized baby making machine rather than the complex individual she is. She shares her worries as a single woman, living away from family and friends, needing to build a relationship with her nieces and nephews to ensure that she does not succumb to every pet owner's fear if they live alone.

Balancing the judgement she receives with how she copes in these situations and her own assessment of people that have chosen to reproduce, Quinn shares some truths that would be useful for some parents acknowledge and accept. The use of certain terminology for the older woman, the question of whether she is childless or childfree and the statement that the single aunt "gets to be the cool aunt" is also examined with humor and frankness.

Quinn's commentary on the use of social media for both parents and children is also amusing. Her message to the parents for whom the world stops because they've had a child is one that many people would probably like broadcast further. The warning to her nieces and nephews, the ones she hopes will one day look after her, on their expression in a permanent global forum is amusing along with the encouragement that they look to her for advice as the non-authority figure adult that has made the mistakes in life and learnt from them.

With high energy and passion, Quinn delivers her story through storytelling, employing a fabulous range of voices as she takes on the personas of the various people she has interacted with, and very creative original songs that capture the emotion and insights, garnering roars of laughter from an audience that all seem to be able to relate on some level. Quinn's vocals are powerful and clear, ensuring every well selected word is heard.

Whether you are a single childfree woman or man, or have offspring of your own, the sometime provocative and up front MODERN DAY MODERN AUNT is well worth seeing. Most People can relate to the content of this show, either having been on the receiving end or on the delivering end of comments and attitudes and also the observations of society.

MODERN DAY MAIDEN AUNT

19 Greenknowe Ave, Potts Point, NSW

Tuesday 16 June at 6.30pm

Wednesday 17 June at 6.30pm

Recommended for over 18s (adult themes and occasional coarse language)

Running time: 60 mins

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