BWW Reviews: Feminism Takes Center Stage with THE FEMALE of the SPECIES
Hearing Margot Mason's (Annette Bening) brash opening words on the phone to her publisher "F*** You!", people will either automatically turn on or turn off to Joanna Murray-Smith's The Female of the Species about the misadventures of a fictional best-selling feminist writer plagued by writer's block. This is an egomaniac who's used to getting her own way in every aspect of her life until an intruder turns her 'self-absorbed' world upside down. Farce is wildly exaggerated comedy, and as such, makes audience laugh out loud because they can see themselves onstage. The Female of the Species has enough laughter for three plays and still manages to be thought-provoking about contemporary gender misconceptions. Men and women are supposed to behave a certain way and when they don't...both are human after all, so why not ease up and view the whole issue with some humility.
That's the theme of Smith's play in a nutshell, but crystallizing it takes time, as there's excessive exposition, with many bizarre characters each with his own tantalizing life history ... so it all gets very complex, but intriguingly funny nonetheless.
Giving the plot away spoils the enjoyment, so all I will say is that Mason's day becomes a nightmare in which the unknown causes her to completely rethink her weaknesses as a writer and more importantly as a woman and mother.
Bening is masterful and brave as the opinionated, caring, soul-searching Mason. This woman may not always be right, but Bening makes her stand her ground with the utmost assurance. Mireille Enos as Tess, Mason's married daughter, is astounding. Her monologue about walking out on her children is heartbreaking and hilarious in one fell swoop. David Arquette as Bryan makes the most of a milktoast role, as he becomes the women's ultimate victim. He is at his best in expressing the man's feminine side. Josh Stamberg steals the play out from everyone as the brash, macho cab driver Frank who somehow manages, in a sensitive manner, to brighten everyone's day, especially that of Tess - and, unpredictably, Margot's. Julian Sands has a thankless role as publisher Theo, but makes the best of it with his strong presence and humor and Merritt Wever as Molly brings a believably nonconformist quality to the intruder, whose intentions fuel the fire, but become of lesser importance as the plot thickens.
No one misses a beat under Arney's top-notch direction, as he keeps the action clicking. Murray's writing is not flawless, but stands apart. When we can relate, the author's work rings true. Every daughter will appreciate the possible demise of an overprotective mother - and every man has a gentle, soup-serving side as well as the overly expected abrasive and fearless one.
Takeshi Kata has designed a lovely.to.look.at country home, but it could stand a few more books and papers scattered about, as untidiness befits most preoccupied writers.
An exceptionally worthwhile evening of theatre not to be missed!
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The Female of the Species plays the Geffen Playhouse. For more information and tickets, visit www.geffenplayhouse.com.
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