The female of the species is a poem by rudyard kipling originally published in 1911. It provides information and suggestions for learning activities in english, literature, theatre studies and drama. Jenni murray on the female of the species stage the guardian. Very rarely will he squarely push the logic of a fact to its ultimate conclusion in unmitigated act. Thirty years ago margot mason, pioneer of the 1970s womens liberation movement and fearless academic, wrote her groundbreaking work, the cerebral vagina. The chief protagonist of joanna murraysmiths new play, the female of the species, is margo mason, famous for a longago feminist tract and now churning out unfelt provocations for an audience she holds in contempt. According to the australia council, joanna murraysmith and daniel keene account for half of all foreign productions of australian plays. Malanda theatre company performs female of the species. However, murray smith feels that within australia, and especially at the sydney theatre company, her work and that of other australian writers, e. Annette bening is a feminist under siege at geffen. The play is a satire about celebrity feminists, with a plot loosely inspired by a reallife incident in 2000, when author germaine greer was held at gunpoint in her own home by a disturbed student. Everyone thinks if you fix a male dog it will lower his aggression, but most of the biters are female. The female of the species by joanna murraysmith, directed by patrick nolan.
A play about sexual politics, premiered in londons west end, by. The female of the species is more deadly than the male. Sep 01, 2006 so begins joanna murray smith s witty new comedy the female of the species. This revised version was premiered at the vaudeville theatre in the west end in 2008. While its homoerotic theme is to a degree subversive in this religious context, its undercut by the fact that a female actor the remarkable sophia georgovassili plays anthi, thus rendering the prolonged final sex scene less challenging to conservative audiences, though this departure from realism by no means deprives the film of its power. The female of the species joanna murraysmith national. Not only does it increase representation of women on screen, it also demands a greater breadth of female characters simply because all of the inmates and the majority of the staff identify. Joanna murray smith has been written for senior secondary students. Nick hern books the female of the species, by joanna murray. In 1998 bev buckingham, australias most successful female jockey had it all. The female of the species by joanna murraysmith 200807. The female of the species, by joanna murray smithstrathmore theatrical arts group presents our next 2017 production by one of australias most prolific playwrig. Sep 10, 2006 music video for spaces single female of the species. Joanna murraysmith has been written for senior secondary students.
The other when perhaps a torrent of language is being employed. As the program notes explain the initial plot premise is inspired by a reallife incident in april 2000, when author. For lovers of australian and new zealand literary fiction. A comedy that deftly walks the tightrope between satire and farce proving the female of the species is not only deadlier, but funnier than the male. Joanna murray smith is a d d ond on ustralian playwright joanna murray smith. The title and refrain have been used as a title for at least three other works see the female of the species disambiguation. While martin and voorhies recognize that there are fundamental differences between men and women that stem from basic biological differences, they are committed to the proposition that culture.
In a week where germaine greer has loomed over the production like the angry clouds of a british summer sky, the female of the species faced critics who would actually watch the play last night. Then you can start reading kindle books on your smartphone, tablet, or computer no kindle device required. Her plays, which include honour, rapture, bombshells, nightfall, redemption, love child and flame, have been produced around the world. Jenni murray on the female of the species stage the. The female of the species joanna murray smith a comedy that deftly walks the tightrope between satire and farce proving the female of the species is not only deadlier, but funnier than the male. According to the australia council, joanna murray smith and daniel keene account for half of all foreign productions of australian plays. Joanna murraysmith defends the female of the species stage. Although, joanna murraysmith is at last returning to our sydney theatre scene.
The arsonist, by chloe hooper anz litlovers litblog. Enter your mobile number or email address below and well send you a link to download the free kindle app. This latest gem from the pen of one of australias most outstanding playwrights was inspired by germaine greers experience of being held captive in her country. Feb 26, 2015 ingmar bergman a man of the theatre by jan holmberg, ceo, ingmar bergman foundation. The dilettantes london spies have reported that theyre quite keen on a new series called the supersizers go, in which food critic giles coren and comedian sue perkins follow the diet of a specific british era for a week, then check in with a doctor. Thirty years ago margot mason, pioneer of the 1970s womens liberation movement and fearless academic, wrote her groundbreaking work and numerous bestsellers followed. Man, a bear in most relationsworm and savage otherwise, man propounds negotiations, man accepts the compromise. Joanna murray smith bombshells nhb modern plays english edition. The female of the species by joanna murraysmith 2008 0710. Joanna murraysmith born 17 april 1962 is a melbourne based australian playwright.
The female of the species, joanna murraysmith, 2008. Joanna murraysmith defends the female of the species. Joanna murraysmith is a melbourne based playwright, screenwriter and novelist. The play is a satire about celebrity feminists, with a plot loosely. Then everything came to an end when a dramatic fall left her with a broken neck. The female of the species is a comic play by joanna murray smith first performed in 2006. The female of the species australian playwright joanna murray smith s comedy ingredients are certainly bold, but the satirical farce meal she serves up is less than satisfying. My intention in writing the female of the species was to devise. A female playwright, directed by a woman, with great womens roles amazing to see. Ingmar bergman on stage by josef weinberger ltd issuu. The female of the species australian playwright joanna murraysmiths comedy ingredients are certainly bold, but the satirical farce meal she serves up is less than satisfying.
Sep 09, 2015 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. Jul 17, 2008 in a week where germaine greer has loomed over the production like the angry clouds of a british summer sky, the female of the species faced critics who would actually watch the play last night. One can see why greer, if she had taken time to read the play, could have been forgiven for her concern. This gem from the pen of one of australias most outstanding playwrights was inspired by germaine greers experience of being held captive in her country house in. They have vastly different backgrounds, and each has been affected by the citys dark past. Playwrights advisory board of sydney playwriting competition in 1955. When nag the basking cobra hears the careless foot of man, he will sometimes wriggle sideways and avoid it as he can.
With michael carman, roz hammond, peter houghton, sue ingleton, bert labonte and bojana novakovic. Female of the species is an attempt to use the approach of traditional anthropology in the examination of the position of women at the species level. The female of the species, by joanna murraysmithstrathmore theatrical arts group presents our next 2017 production by one of australias most prolific playwrig. Mellors view of feminine romanticism suggests that female writers highlighted they did not partake of this exploitative hierarchical perspective. The female of the species begins with these words from alex croft. In 2008, she was awarded a cbe in the queens birthday honours list for services to literature, drama and charity. Jul 30, 2008 joanna murraysmith defends the female of the species. One of the most riveting sessions at the recent word for word non fiction festival in geelong was chloe hooper in conversation with lisa waller from deakin. However, murraysmith feels that within australia, and especially at the sydney theatre company, her work and that of other australian writers, e.
Molly, an unannounced visitor and committed fan of margot and her work, offers a potential solution. This latest gem from the pen of one of australias most outstanding playwrights was inspired by germaine greers experience of being held captive in her. Iain sinclair, behind mtcs a view from the bridge, is directing grace cummings in this premiere. Joanna murraysmith margot mason is a famous feminist writer, sitting at her desk at home, struggling to finish her next book. Annette bening, playing the female of the species in joanna murraysmiths latest play, the actress stars as a feminist icon who has written such literary gems as madame ovary. One of the plays nevin passed over while at the head of stc was the female of the species, an excursion into new territory for murraysmith. Joanna murraysmiths 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.
Both plays are intended to present women as equal players in the game of life. Cygnet creative learning resources black swan state theatre. 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. Annette bening is a feminist under siege at geffen playhouse. Daisy this word document was downloaded from please. The female of the species, based on events in the life of germaine greer, opened in the west end at the vaudeville theatre in july 2008, directed by roger michell and starring eileen atkins. The female of the species by joanna murraysmith eventfinda. Honour has been produced in over two dozen countries, including productions on broadway and at the national theatre in london and most. Joanna murraysmiths deliciously wicked comedy deftly walks the tightrope between satire and farce proving the female of the species is not only deadlier, but. Designed by dale ferguson, lighting by matt scott, composer david chesworth. But his mate makes no such motion where she camps beside the trail, for the female of the species is more deadly than the male. Nick hern books the female of the species, by joanna.
Music video for spaces single female of the species. Sep 17, 2011 malanda theatre company performs female of the species. Jul 10, 2008 joanna murraysmiths play the female of the species was premiered in melbourne, australia, in 2006. A deliciously wicked comedy that proves that the female of the species is not only deadlier, but funnier than the male. As the program notes explain the initial plot premise is. Joanna murray smiths 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. At barely more than 100 pages, walks with men is as succinct as a text novel and better written by far. The play is a satire about celebrity feminists, with a plot loosely inspired by a reallife incident in 2000, when author germaine greer was held at gunpoint in her own home by a disturbed student the play was premiered in australia, where it had several productions in 2006 and 2008.
After months of hard work and anguish, bev defied the odds and walked again, but even the miracle of her recovery could not prepare her for the pain in her private life that would follow. It really is a stunning book, one which warns us of an apocalyptic future if we dont act soon on climate change. Through the french doors of the study comes a young, uninvited student, molly rivers, who. Joanna murraysmith is a d d ond on ustralian playwright joanna murraysmith. Joanna murraysmiths play the female of the species was premiered in. Joanna murraysmiths play the female of the species was premiered in melbourne, australia, in 2006. Playwright joanna murraysmith returns to melbourne theatre company with a show about two young people meeting one night in berlin. The female of the species by joanna murraysmith 2008 0710 joanna murraysmith on. The female of the species has been hailed as a hilarious and timely. You see it in all animals the female of the species is more deadly than the male. Bergman 19182007 is one of the worlds few truly great filmmakers, and arguably the bestknown. Joanna murray smith is a melbourne based playwright, screenwriter and novelist. Female writers needed to decide how to respond to a culture that aligned women with nonhuman nature and would pose culture as distant from and superior to both women and nature.