Reviews

The Glebe, Thursday, January 13, 2005

DULWICH Hill’s Vee Malnar knows all too well that all-girl bands have very short lifespans. Ironically, her play on the issue has lasted a whole lot longer. It’s been almost 7 years since the original Rock Chicks production played for the Sydney Fringe Festival and now Malnar is bringing it back.

‘‘It was kind of a CD first because I was in a band and the 18 tracks were recorded and then I got the idea it could work really well in a play,’’ Malnar said. The visual artist has spent many years since its debut developing the script into a screenplay for a film. After taking it to professional readings last year, Malnar was encouraged to again produce the play to generate more interest in the project.

‘‘All-girl bands don’t last long because they only usually have a working span of about 18 months,’’ she said. ‘‘There’s a reason for it and it’s explained in our show.’’

The story follows a four-girl band, The Minority Group, through the eyes of a stay-at-home husband. His wife leaves him with the baby and she embarks on a tour of NSW with the under-rehearsed band. The work explores all the setbacks involved and the problems that women encounter in trying to live a life on the road. It includes live performances of many original tracks, including I Don’t Need a Man and You Left a Pubic Hair on the Toilet Seat. This also meant that casting the new production took a long time. ‘‘There’s not that many female actor/bass players out there,’’ Malnar said. Rock Chicks is on at TAP Gallery, Darlinghurst from January 28 to February 12. For bookings, call 1300 306 776 or go to www.mca-tix.com

Amelia Ball

Liz Bowie, Laura Brown, & Vee Malnar

Sitting in the audience at the Tap Gallery tonight waiting for curtain up I can easily imagine what it would be like to take a sauna fully clothed. I am going to sweat enough to fill a wading pool while watching chicks that play E chords whinge.
I am so relieved when I discover, Vee Malnar, the writer of Rock Chicks, has a wry sense of humour as well as being a talented musician and songwriter. The ideas in her play obviously come from personal experience, she has formed bands, been on the road and known the frustration of paying to play. Her characters, of course, take on the grind of touring, and it is in the changing dynamics between themselves where many of the genuine comic moments are found.
The original score includes gems such as, ‘Readjust his Dick’, ‘You Left A Pubic Hair on the Toilet Seat,’ and my personal favourite, ‘Fucking my Way to the Top’. All the songs are performed live, no one is lip-syncing here. The band is Vee Malnar, Laura Brown, Ann Brita Nilsson and Liz Bowie. Helen Tonkin plays their ex-porn star manageress and Adam Anderson is the disgruntled husband left behind at home.
They are wonderfully off-beat characters, well portrayed, but perhaps with a little more directorial precision the full potential in the material could be extracted. There are amusing filmic references in the script which worked well. The show started as a cabaret and its next outing could easily be on celluloid.
That quintessential rock band once screamed, “It’s a long way to the top if you want to Rock and Roll”. If it seems I am now venturing into redneck territory, remember was are talking about a thrilling but deeply stupid art form and respect that three chords can set the world on fire. Moreover, there are not many girl bands out there. They are not very accepted. However, anyone, male or female, trying to make it in the music industry must know they are heading for a lesson in heartbreak.

Veronica Hannon

MOSMAN DAILY Feb 3rd 2005
   
     Helen has fun as top rock chick
     ACTRESS Helen Tonkin was caught out – dressed as a tart at her front gate in Kirribilli.
     She was having her photograph taken and a neighbour spotted her. “You know, I don’t normally dress like this. It’s for a part,” she said in explanation for the tight leather pants, leopard skin top and raunchy high heels.
     The male neighbour, however, thinks she looks good and nods approvingly.
     Tonkin is in the gear for her part in the new musical Rock Chicks, playing the former showgirl obsessed with sex who tries to

Kate Crawford