So, did you go and see that vagina play?
Beth Anne is preparing for a pageant. Her family is definitely going to watch. Oh yeah, definitely. They always supported her in all of those things she did. Piano, theatre, singing… learning to drive… Her daddy was so keen to teach her to drive again at 25. What an accomplished woman! So yeah, they’re definitely going to watch the pageant.
Dentata feels so Brighton Fringe. Upstairs at The Actors, we were welcomed by Beth Anne Scherm (Julia VanderVeen) in all of her prep pageant beauty: the hair, the dress, those heels! “Hey, how’re you doin’!?” Immediately, we’re there with her, not just to watch her. “Let’s play a little game; imagine you’re swimming!” and suddenly everyone in the room is mimicking the breaststroke. Where the show starts is at the threshold of that door. You’re in, and oh boy, are you in!
“This is not one of those man-hating shows.” No, not at all! I mean she gives ‘em a cookie! A banana! Mini cupcakes! Hey, look, this one believes in female pleasure and even knows vaguely where the clitoris is! VanderVeen takes us through a parade of different characters, all of whom know oh how wonderful it is to have a man explain that one thing again. Gosh darn, don’t we just love it, ladies?
From sensual twin sirens singing to Odysseus (well, why wouldn’t they snog each other?), to a sexy scientist (three pairs of glasses, mind you!); a lovestruck medusa, to a… is that her vulva talking!? This show is colourful, vibrant, hilarious, and absolutely mad. It’ll have you laughing, cringing, squirming, and singing all your favourite words for whatever that thing women have between their legs is called these days.
The madness crescendos into the final act: the pageant! Oh, her papa would be so proud! A song and dance celebrating the freedom to know that you can tell people to FUCK OFF! To take what you want, to be what you want to be! In a balancing act where the elements come alive in the audience, Dentata is a phenomenal show for an evening of feminine fury, flirtatiousness, and fun. It strikes a chord between relatability and rage, between sensuality and satire. Careful, things may get a little wet – why is it that it does that, anyway?
Absolutely eat this show up!
By Natasha Jane Kennedy
