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Vaudeville Theatre 404 Strand WC2R 0HN		Female of the Species
Map ©Silvermaze Ltd 2008		Photo ©Tony Reading 2008
Show Details Preview 10th July 08 Opens 16th July 08 Booking to 4th Oct 08 Show Times Tuesday - Saturday 7.30 pm Matinée Weds & Sat 2.30 pm Local Info Top Class restaurants nearby; Thai Pin (Thai) 7 Maiden Lane 020 7497 0999 Stranded in London (Italian) 417 Strand 020 7836 0654 Simpson's-in-the-Strand (British) 100 Strand 020 7836 9112 Book Now Great Hotel Deals This link takes you straight to the online booking page for this actual show! The Londontown online hotel booking service is the best one - backed by men and women on the phone who guide you to get the best central hotel for your needs and offer great deals as well. We use them ourselves. Taxis & Travel Contact us This links you to the taxi page of Transport for London.		A new comedy about an age old topic - women and power - now known as 'feminism'.  As each generation has it's views, overall the power of women has been known for millennia to be simply different from men. Kipling said "deadlier" in his intellectual doggerel called "female of the Species" which was an apology in its way for the repression and cruelty towards women that has been virtually unabated by most races (not quite all)  for as long as we can remember. That being said we women are now given the opportunity to buy into repression or to get the balance right.  We can carry on playing on slave prototypes (whether a well groomed newscaster,  or biz ms in manish suit + briefcase, or simply a berka) as opposed to out and out protest as a feminist book writer. Women are very good playwrights and it is important to examine this topic with the wit and humour that Joanna Murray Smith has lavished on the players of her story.  See this play - it's a lot of fun and has a message about motherhood to boot. The Story The play is set in the country home of Margot Mason, a feminist author, (maybe inspired by Greer).  She is in the process of finishing her latest book and suffering writer's block complete with missed deadlines. A young woman Molly arrives unexpectedly and appears to be a fan. Then the story unfolds as she threatens to kill Margot because her mother had become warped by her books and so depressed she killed herself - and Molly blames Margot for influencing her to do it. The two of them are joined by a husband, a publisher and a daughter who all join the very funny almost farcical debate about the situation and women / men in general. If you like plays and want to laugh then book now -  fresh new comedies are becoming a rarity in the West end and this is worth going to. Cast  • Margot Mason - Eileen Atkins • Molly Rivers - Anna Maxwell Martin  •  Bryan Thornton - Paul Chahidi  • Tess thornton - Sophie Thompson • Theo Reynolds - Sam Kelly •  Frank - Con O'Neill  • Director - Roger Michell • Design - Mark Thompson  • Lighting - James Whiteside • Sound - Matt McKenzie • Producers -  David Richenthal / Mary Beth O'Connor / Nica Burns / Max Weitzenhoffer (for Nimax Theatres)
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