Me Too! The Musical

Me Too! The Musical
By Louise Plant, Stacey Broomhead and Dan Smith. Fringe World Festival. Directed by Michael McCall. The Art Room, The Girls School, East Perth, WA. Jan 15-24, 2021

With the emergence of the Me Too! movement, it was only a matter of time before we got Me Too! The Musical, billed as a show which "hits hard and fast at the outrageous and horrifying behaviours women have had to endure over time and the impact it has on the women of today”.

Playing in one of the nicest rooms in the Girls School, my disappointment with Me Too! The Musical, is for me, it didn’t do what it says on the box and wasn’t "the shockingly hilarious story of female empowerment” it promised to be. Although the plot redeems itself at the end, the satire isn’t clear enough, and it subsequently ends up playing into the stereotypes and expectations it purports to be against. Annie, awkward and lacking in self-esteem, desires to be able to say “Me Too!” - not to be able to stand up to men who prey on women - but because she wants to feel desirable enough to be assaulted. 

The show is strongest when it “punches up” with some clever swipes at Cosby, Weinstein and Epstein - and these moments show us the heights this show could have reached. 

Leading actress Hannah Jones does a good job with a well acted, nicely sung performance. Callum O’Mara is likeable as Ethan who also narrates the show. Dan Smith is convincing as a series of lecherous, misogynistic characters. Robin Wood, Stacey Broomhead and Louise Plant bring high energy performances to supporting roles.

Songs are simple, but performed with enthusiasm and nicely backed by a three piece band. Musically directed by Todd Fishwick on guitar, Jen Irvine played keyboard and Joshua Barker was on drums.

Highly controversial subject matter, with lots of potential for clever twists, Me Too! The Musical didn’t quite hit it mark.

Kimberley Shaw

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