FANGIRLS

It’s refreshing to be able to attend the theatre amidst a global pandemic, even more so to be able to attend a relatively new Australian musical, showcasing the talents of some of our country's most gifted rising stars.

FANGIRLS debuted in 2018 as a work in progress at the Adelaide Cabaret Festival.  It was subsequently developed into a sell-out co-production between Belvoir, Queensland Theatre and Brisbane Festival, in association with Australian Theatre for Young People (who sadly lost critical arts funding recently), and directed by Paige Rattray.

With book, music and lyrics by the clearly gifted Yve Blake, FANGIRLS gives an insight (or a reminder) into what it is to be a teenage girl. It’s the story of young love, fan hysteria, friendship, family, self-image, gender disparities and the relentless pressures of navigating puberty under the constant watch of social media.

14 year-old Edna Oka (energetically played by Karis Oka) is utterly besotted by Harry (Aydan), the lead singer of True Connection, as are her best friends Jules (Chika Ikogwe) and Brianna (Shubshri Kandiah), along with an online fandom of millions. 

The depth of the Harry obsession is cleverly interwoven into the show by designers David Fleischer and Justin Harrison with Harry’s face emblazoned on pillowcases, bean bags, and a particularly iconographic video sequence, featuring what can only be described as the love heart stigmata. Video features throughout as a designation of place. It is most cleverly used to demonstrate the unabated noise that social media makes in Edna’s life and can make in all of our lives.

Edna is an intelligent girl, a private school scholarship winner and someone that her friends look to for explanations to difficult concepts. Growing up in a single parent household, Edna has a loving, but sometimes tense, relationship with her hard-working, pragmatic mother (played with great tenderness and humour by Danielle Barnes).  As a parent she only wants what is best but is frequently on the receiving end of the ‘why are you like this?’ look from Edna.

As many teenagers do, Edna at times feels shunned by her ‘friends’, misunderstood by her family and is yearning for real connection. She finds a bond with fellow ‘Harry’ fan fiction writer Salty from Utah (James Majoos). Majoos is a life-force in this role, bringing humour and empathy to the character with a bubbling energy. Salty provides a poignant reminder that our society still does not comfortably provide an outlet for the passions of our LGBTQI+ youth.

It is Edna’s perceived connection to Harry that drives the story forward. Edna feels that she alone truly ‘gets’ Harry and that he, in return, will ‘get’ her.

When True Connection, finally, announce a tour to Australia, excitement reaches fever pitch. As the girls come to the realisation that they don’t have access to the money needed to purchase tickets (that will likely sell out in ten minutes) friendships are tested and risky plots formed.

The second act could be no better showcase of the creative team as the audience find themselves at the bass-thumping, light show extravaganza that is the True Connection concert. So easily are the audience carried along with the atmosphere that phones are held aloft as they sway along to the beat.

The songs have a currency, are gutsy and above-all catchy (and now available online – of course). The songs also provide the show with a narrative that is augmented by dialogue that feels completely authentic to the generation. Don’t worry though, if you’re not abreast of the current teenage lexicon, you’ll have it down pat before you leave the theatre!

The ensemble cast are faultless, ably segueing between characters, maintaining their energy throughout high energy dance pieces and pulling off some complex singing numbers with great harmony.

Special mention to must go to Chika Ikogwe for her portrayal of boyfriend obsessed Jules. She manages to perfectly inhabit that place between childhood and adulthood that, at some stage, we all experience.

Likewise, Ayesha Madon who pops up in a myriad of guises is outstanding. Her sweet yet angry online rants are simultaneously hilarious and terrifying.  But it is her delightful yet unexpected repeat appearances with the gymnastic ribbon that I believe the audience find most endearing.

There are strong messages couched in this entertaining, new Australian musical, not least that ‘to love is brave’. There is also a reminder that gender disparity is still present in our society. While it is acceptable for young men to fervently follow sporting icons, it remains less acceptable for young women to show that level of passion towards popular culture icons.

Ultimately though, this show is about the choices we all have. We can choose to accept ourselves, choose not to dwell on our perceived faults, choose communication, choose kindness and choose for what purpose we want to use our voices. And maybe, just maybe, sometimes we can choose not to listen to the noise created by social media.

Jenny Fewster

Photographer: Brett Boardman

Click here to purchase a script of FANGIRLS at Stage Whispers Books.

Click here to read more Adelaide Festival 2021 reviews.