‘Respect’, which played at the State Theatre, was a good night at the theatre. Professor Dorothy Marcic’s play, adapted from one of her books, and adapted for the stage in Australia by Beatrix Christian, looks at the lives of women over the last century through the medium of popular song.

The storyline sees Dodi, an ex Broadway star, audition singers for a role in a musical about the history of women singers. Three beautiful young talented singers try their luck with the brooding Broadway star. Rhonda Burchmore played the role of Dodi with WAAPA graduate Lucy Durack playing Rikki, Belinda Wollaston played Miriam and Elanora Rokobaro, a young Afro-American performer, played Grace.

‘Respect’ felt a bit like a jukebox of the best songs of the last century. It wasn’t the most cerebral of experiences, but it was helped by the performances. Rhonda Burchmore was great. Lucy Durack gave a livewire, charismatic performance, Belinda Wollaston showed a great voice, and there was a great warmth about Rokobaro’s performance.

There were some 40 songs in the show which went for just over 90 minutes. The songs conveyed where women were at the time in terms of how they viewed themselves and their relationships. The song titles kind of spoke for themselves; ‘Girl in a Gilded Cage’, ‘Bobby’s Girl’, ‘Diamonds are a Girl’s Best Friend’!

Rhonda Burchmore’s interpretation of Joni Mitchell’s song ‘Both Sides Now’ was one of the highlights of the evening. There was even a touching rendition of Helen Reddy’s ‘I am Woman’, that rose above the giggles and cynicism from the audience.