In our youth-obsessed society, women become sexualised at a very young age. Often before they can themselves understand the concept of sex, they are being seen as sexual beings. This strips power away from young girls who do not get the chance to grow up before they sexualised.
Whore: A Kid’s Play is a must see if you are into feminist political theatre.
In Whore: A Kid’s Play, a new drama by Reese Thompson, we follow the story of Angie and Jen as they discover their sexuality in the hostile environment of a small religious town. Growing up in what is made to look like pretty surreal settings, the lives of Angie and Jen relate to the upbringing of so many young girls. Absent parents, social pressures and revenge porn all play a part in this interesting think piece.
The story is littered with fantastic movement. The playful physicalities of the actors perfectly create the illusion when they play children, and the absence of it effectively translates when they are meant to be older. Sporting games, voguing and hilarious choreography, the movement is completely appropriate for the nature of the piece.
The structure of the play is slightly abstract and does not take place in a chronological order, which in this case is really effective for the storytelling. The text is both vulgar and childish, provoking one to pay heed to the power of words. As characters, both Jen and Angie are beautifully flawed and the journey they go on throughout the play is completely unpredictable. It is so refreshing to watch a female character written this way.
Whore: A Kid’s Play is a must see if you are into feminist political theatre. Reese Thompson must be applauded for this fantastic piece of work.
