What do Titanic, Pretty Women, Dirty Dancing, Beaches, Legally Blonde and The Notebook all have in common? Well, they all fall into the genre of movies that have come to known as Chick Flicks and you may think that there is not much more to them than being crowd pleasing entertainment for a girl’s night, but that is where you are mistaken.
Enter KK Apple and Kerry Ipema, the double act behind ‘Six Chick Flicks’, (...or a Legally Blonde Pretty Woman Dirty Danced on the Beaches while writing a Notebook on the Titanic) which runs at Underbelly Cowbarn Bristo Square nightly at 9.30pm until August 25th. This parody of some of the most famous chick flicks around, which sees the two perform the movies in their own style at a rapid pace, is very clever. And that is because, whilst being incredibly funny and a wonderful night out for any chick flick fan, it actually digs deeper and plays with some big and serious ideas within the laughter and silliness.
The action kicks off straight away as the pair throw themselves into a reaction of Titanic and the audience laugh at the fun of it all; it’s over the top and smile inducing, but perhaps distracts, at first, as to where this show is heading. It is only when they begin to question the writing behind Rose’s decision making and her sudden passionate relationship with Jack that things really get going.
Why is it in Chick Flicks that a girl can go into a changing room and every single item of clothing fits her perfectly? Why is it in Chick Flicks that women fall in love so quickly? And why is it that in Chick Flicks a man thinks that taking control and/or throwing money around is the to a women’s heart? The answer is simple. It was written by a man. And of course a man would think like that.
This repeated mantra of ‘written by a man’ becomes a narrative thread as Apple and Ipema take the audience on a whistle stop tour thought Titanic, Pretty Women, Legally Blonde, Beaches, The Notebook and Dirty Dancing. Hats, wigs and a collection of fun and funny props allow the pair to quickly change characters and pick their own fun at the characters, much to the delight of the audience who cheer, laugh and join in with famous catch phrases. But, cleverly, whilst making the audience laugh and generally giving them a great time, they also pick apart the narrative, questioning it and laughing themselves at the sometimes absurdity of the stories. For example, how Elle Woods argues her case in court by using her hair styling expertise and how everyone is confused when we actually learn Baby’s name in Dirty Dancing. And it often circles back to ‘written by a man’.
Serious points are also bravely spoken about for a comedy show, in particular the overturning of Rowe Vs Wade, weaving this into their reaction of Dirty Dancing by proclaiming that this is a film all about abortion hidden under the guise of being a fun dance movie. An ingenious way of getting a serious political point across without deviating very far from the point of their show, which is to celebrate the fun of Chick Flicks and how we all love them, no matter how silly and unbelievable they are.
The audience on the night I attended were having a great time, laughing and cheering throughout, the staging was a great fit, perfectly for the minimal set, a box of props and just two performers but I couldn’t help but notice that the audience only took up a few rows in the rather large auditorium. The Cowbarn venue is rather long and fairly narrow, and perhaps this show would have been more suited to a slightly smaller space where the laughter and enjoyment could have filled the space more.
Overall, if you are a fan of Chick Flicks and are looking for a fun evening, then Six Chick Flicks is guaranteed to please. It’s silly and fun, but with some impressively interwoven serious points about how women are both written in film and treated in the real world. It's quick, clever, and brilliantly performed. Apple and Ipema are wonderfully likable and you feel like you are just having a laugh with friends, interspersed with conversation about current political affairs. You will laugh, but you will also think and find yourself thinking ‘Yeah, I never thought of it like that, but yes, that’s very true’. See this show, and you’ll see exactly what I mean.
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