• Advertise
  • Request Review
  • Write for Us
  • Privacy
  • Login

Theatre Bubble

The UK Theatre Network

Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy
  • Reviews
  • News
  • Features
  • Spotlight
  • Opinions
  • Interviews
  • Guides

Lady Macbeth and her Pal Megan at C Venues

August 8, 2017 by Emma Brand Leave a Comment

Review of: Lady Macbeth and her pal Megan at C Venues
Price:
£9.50, £7.50

Reviewed by: Emma Brand
Rating:
2
On August 8, 2017
Last modified:August 8, 2017

Summary:

An interesting and entertaining hour, but I could have done without the Shakespeare

More Details

Megan is a stand-up comic who has had a lifelong attraction to the role of Lady Macbeth, though her actor friend tells her she could never play her. She’s sexy, dangerous, and mad, while Megan has the personality of a golden retriever.

Megan Gogerty’s one-woman show is part long-form comedy sketch, and part dramatic monologue, interweaving Shakespeare with anecdotes from Gogerty’s life. Though the play is frequently referred to, actually most of the show is an exploration of what it’s like to be a woman on the male-dominated comedy circuit. The American scene seems tougher and cruder than the British one – her devastating stories frequently elicited gasps as well as laughs from the audience.

So where does Lady Macbeth fit into this narrative? It turns out, Megan hasn’t actually read the play. And when she does, she is horrified to discover that her heroine is “barely in it”, and even more horrified to find out how quickly she loses her agency. For Megan, this experience is analogous to her experience as a woman on stage – in trying to have power, she becomes disempowered; in putting herself out there as a sign of strength, she leaves herself open to objectification.

The show was at its best when Gogerty was making astute observations about the precarious nature of female performance. The paradoxes she explored felt powerful and true. At times, she could veer into earnestness, with a tone that is perhaps more suited  to American audiences. On the whole, however, I enjoyed her analysis of her craft.

What I enjoyed less, however, was the Shakespeare aspect. I felt at times like I was being taught a literature lesson, and also found some of her interpretations of the text a little too dogmatic. As an ex-English student, I found This a little grating.

I did, however, buy into the twist at the end: if you want to have agency as a woman, you don’t want to be Lady Macbeth. You want to be a witch – with the power to control the future, agency over yourself and others, and a supportive “coven” of weird sisters.

Overall, it was an interesting and entertaining hour, but I’m not sure Gogerty necessarily needed the Shakespearean frame narrative, or how successfully it came off.

Author: Emma Brand

Filed Under: Review Tagged With: Edinburgh Fringe 2017

Join the discussion Cancel reply

INTERVIEW / Fraser Grace talks about Bliss at the Finborough Theatre

Written by Fraser Grace (Breakfast with Mugabe, RSC), Bliss is based on a short story by censored writer Andrey Platonov. It’s at Finborough [Read More]

NEWS / Japanese Romeo and Juliet to the songs of Queen announced

Coming to Sadler’s Wells in September as part of its world tour, A Night At The Kabuki is a retelling [Read More]

INTERVIEW / Paul O’Donnell talks about Shoot Festival

Shoot Festival returns this year with a mix of commissioned pieces and showcases of the best of Coventry’s arts scene. [Read More]

Review / The Man who Knew Too Much at Omnibus Theatre

A packed Omnibus Theatre lapped up the entertaining antics of The Man Who Knew Too Much. Co-Director and Co-writer Olivia [Read More]

Spotlight / Inua Ellams at 05Fest Lewisham

Inua Ellams, the Albany and WE ARE LEWISHAM  presents………. 05Fest, 10 – 19 March Poetry takes front and centre stage [Read More]

Top Posts & Pages

  • 10 Tips to Help You Prepare for Your Reality TV Auditions
  • Fraser Grace talks about Bliss at the Finborough Theatre
  • Writing the Perfect Press Release
  • Japanese Romeo and Juliet to the songs of Queen announced
  • Kim Scopes tells us about Somewhere To Belong
  • 5 Stage Elements to Consider for a Rousing Theatrical Production
  • Inside Pussy Riot at the Saatchi Gallery
  • Into the Woods, Northern Ireland Opera
  • Katy Owen: Auditioning for Oxford School of Drama
  • The Pay’s the Thing: Making a Living as an Actor
  • Emma Brand
    Contributor

  • August 8th, 2017
  • comment iconNo Comments
  • Facebook1TweetLinkedInEmail

    Newsletter

    Enjoyed what you've read? Get even more great content directly to your inbox - Completely Free

    About Theatre Bubble

    Theatre Bubble is the news, review and blogging site created by Blue Pie Media and run by a dedicated team of outstanding editors and writers: we're always looking for new contributors - to find out more click here.

    Contact Us

    News: news@theatrebubble.com
    Reviews: reviews@theatrebubble.com
    Website: webmaster@theatrebubble.com

    Privacy Policy

    Copyright © 2022 · Blue Pie Media

     

    Loading Comments...
     

      Share this ArticleLike this article? Email it to a friend!

      Email sent!