This is a sassy, irreverent, very contemporary romantic comedy.
In BANGING DENMARK Jake Newhouse, a Lothario like figure who has women falling at his feet. His charms however fall flat when he tries to crack onto a woman he is smitten with Anne, a Danish librarian. He figures out she must be a feminist. He decides that there must be a special strategy that he needs to use with feminist women, and consults feminist oracle, Ishtar.
At first, Ishtar says a flat no. For one thing she can’t stand Lotharios Things change when Jake offers a lot of money, $50,000 in fact if she will help him out. Ishtar has fallen on hard times, she has been sleeping in her office lately and living on baby cucumbers. It’s an offer she can’t refuse, and thus begins the comic, jaunty journey.
There are plenty of twists and turns along the way. The writing is first class with plenty of witty lines and repartee. Jessica Arthur’s direction is assured and the cast relish the characters they get to play.
TJ Power is very convincing as Jake Newhouse as well as playing his altar ego broadcaster Guy Dewitt.
Amber McMahon again shows she is a great comedienne playing Ishtar Madigan.
As does Michelle Lim Davidson playing the icy, white gloved librarian Anne Toft from Denmark.
Megan Wilding gives a lovely, high energy comic performance as Ishtar’s close friend Dr Denyse Kim.
Patrick Jhanur plays Toby Bello who is ardently pursuing Denyse to no avail. Ishtar is angry with Denyse for not giving Toby a chance.
Production elements are strong; set and costume design by Renee Mulder, lighting design by Veronique Benett, composer and sound designer Clemence Williams, assistant direction by Tasnim Houssain and voice and text coach Charmain Gradwell.
Summing up, BANGING DENMARK is a bright, sparky comedy that will see you go back out into the cool night air with a big smile on your face.
Watch this space to see whether this play script will be turned into a screenplay. It strikes me that it’s a distinct possibility.
A Sydney Theatre Company production, BANGING DENMARK is playing the Studio at the Sydney Opera House until Saturday 24 August, 2019.
