Show: The Masked Femme
Location: Unity Theatre, Liverpool
Date: Friday July 23 2021
Time: 19.30
Running Time: 105 Minutes
Age Rating: 16+
Performers: Aidan Watson, Georgina Taylor, Deborah Dubosq, Elli Purse & B Murray
Production Company: Rickety Fidgets
Writer: Rickety Fidgets
Director: Rickety Fidgets
This is our theatre review for The Masked Femme at Liverpool‘s Unity Theatre. So, let’s take a look at The Masked Femme!
The Masked Femme
Synopsis
We meet The Masked Femme (Aidan Watson), a mask-clad professional wrestler who is cutting a retirement promo. Why? Because of a devastating loss to her arch-rival, and former best friend The Butcher (Georgina Taylor). But as Fidget 1 (Deborah Dubosq) and Fidget 2 (Elli Purse) explain, this is merely the payoff to an extensive story. And we, the audience, get to see this story play out chronologically from that point on.
So, The Masked Femme is the creation of a childhood wrestling fan, albeit one who happens to be transgender. And Femme lives out her dream to succeed as a pro wrestler within the women’s division of Rickety Fidgets Wrestling (RFW). Indeed, she forms a tag team with Butch, and they dominate as Tag Team Champions. Now, a heel turn by Butch sets up their upcoming rivalry once Femme completes a hugely successful world tour. But along the way, their personal relationship forms cracks that mirror their conflict within the world of sports entertainment. And we, the RFW Universe, await to see how this transpires. Not to mention the transphobia that Femme encounters by some promoters, as well as the homophobia that Butch, a lesbian, encounters.
Analysis
As Femme would tell us at the end of the evening, wrestling is an apt backdrop for this tale. That’s because wrestling is very similar to the theatre, where extravagant characters play out true-to-life stories to elicit emotional reactions. But sometimes wrestling can delve into reality by presenting situations that are uncomfortable to watch, but yet are prevalent in society. That’s what this show seeks to explore by discussing how Femme being transgender can both help and hurt her career. Not to mention how wrestling has no off-season, just like how these social issues never go away. They’re still around, and they always hurt. Hopefully, this show helps to educate people on what life is like being transgender and how to handle abhorrent derogatory insults.
Now, as a huge wrestling fan myself, it was a lot of fun to watch this show live. For those unfamiliar with the inner workings of wrestling, this production breaks down how wrestling actually operates. And to me, that might enlighten people to appreciate wrestling more, rather than just dismissing it as “fake fighting”. Indeed, there’s an art to great wrestling. Meanwhile, there was much humour during the show, both in terms of slapstick comedy and wrestling-specific jokes. (That Femme’s father has the name “Mark” is likely not coincidental.) And there is real meaning to this show, with the audience feeling Femme’s pain during her heartfelt retirement speech. As with many social issues, one can only truly experience somebody’s psychological pain by stepping in their shoes. And in this case, the lines between reality and fiction would blur during a frank and tearful final scene.
Summary
I would encourage all wrestling fans to take a look at The Masked Femme. And I would also encourage this show for theatregoers, but not for the wrestling aspect. Indeed, there is much to learn here about transphobia and how society needs to have a much better education. And for any transgender attendees, the resistance that Femme meets may hit very close to home. So, definitely check out this show from Rickety Fidgets if it comes to a theatre near you.
Notes
Target Audience: 16+
Content: Some Strong Language & Discriminatory Language
Recommendation?: Yes
Overall Rating: 8.5/10 – Excellent
The Masked Femme Further Link
For more information about The Masked Femme, please click here.
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