RavenMuse
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Last nights Croydon munch saw the first public reading of Stella Bakers play "Switch".
The three member cast looked rather nervious when they arrived, probably not helped by the fact that Stella had been delayed and arrived a short while after them. But they soon settled and, a little later than planned, the reading got underway.
Given it was a reading and not a performance, understandably the start felt a little hesitent as it was maybe a little more difficult to hook the audience into the initial situation. It started with an exchange between the two female characters but didn't really pick up pace till the third character 'arrived' then the situation soon became a lot clearer.
A twist on the old 'love triangle' slanted into lifestyle dynamics. The Domme/wife who acted as secretary during work hours to Her slave husband and the arrival of the sub/slave girl he has been stringing along in an affair with as her Dom/Master for a couple of years, causing a crashing down of all his lies. His chickens comming home to roost as he and his Wife stared down the wrong end of a gunbarrel.
Nice play on the circumstances changing the power over the situation, the Domme/wife struggling at times with having the power taken away by the presence of the gun, several moments of hesitation and confusion from the female sub seeming not quite sure what she wanted nor what to do with the transient power the gun gave her. The switch male was a slightly disapointing character as there was no redeaming features about him at all at least nothing that was shown to the audience and I doubt I was the only was thinking "just pull the trigger and improve the gene pool by removing that lying cheating crawling guttless wonder from it"
Certainly more could have been made of that character in terms of the supposed 'normal' modes of behaviour he had with the two women. Trying to placate the Domme (He only really gave some half hearted excuses that soon showed to be yet more lies, rather than displaying any real recognisable submissive traits.... but then I guess that was one of the points, as he wasn't really in submission else he couldn't have done the lies and cheating in the first place), and trying to control the sub (she made reference to forms of address but again the male character didn't really take any Dominant stance with her at all.... but again, he wasn't supposed to be a Dominant, just an opportunist user who played the role). Though I'm not sure you could have made him any more likable, the character at heart was a total scumbag.
The Domme did manage to carry the role at one point, when the character's irritation at her slaves lies and feeble excuses finaly seemed to overcome her fear of being shot. For a few moments She did seem to have control, she did get in the driving seat but of course it is hard to stay there when someone has a gun pointed at your face.
The strongest performance came from the sub female, the only minor critisism I have there comes from the writing and not from the acting as the character contradicts herself a little too often. Probably representing the confusion and being unsuited to having control, but as an observer I found those contradictions kicking Me out of believing in the character. Luckaly the actress had a strong enough performance that I was soon drawn back in.
As Stella promised there where parts of the play that certainly did set My teeth on edge and raise My hackles. Especialy where the validity of the lifestyle was being called into question.... however from a character who's main experience was with a lying cheating playacting creep who could blame her for taking that viewpoint. There ARE many out there like the male character and isn't surprizing that many get the impression that it is all it is about. Actual lifestylers are far and few between and people will form their opinions on what they see, the negative side outnumbers Us.
I won't spoil the ending for those who didn't see it but that in itself raises questions. I know what I think happened but possibly others might have a different take on it. People will get chance to make their own mind up as the play will have its first full perfomance at LAM in a couple of months time.
Well worth seeing and a credit both to the writter and all three performers.
< Message edited by RavenMuse -- 4/17/2009 5:53:02 AM >
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This above all: to thine own self be true,
And it must follow, as the night the day,
Thou canst not then be false to any man.
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'Switch' @ Croydon Munch (mini review) - 
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