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The Debutante Diaries
Presented by:
Blackbird Productions
Venue:
QUT Gardens Theatre, Brisbane
Reviewer:
Kellie Scott
Date
Reviewed:
Sunday 24th May,
2009
Comedic genius Kate McLennan takes us to a high-school world where
girls are bitches, boys get facials, and teachers are desperate.
The hilariously honest Debutante Diaries will have you in
shock and stitches.
McLennan single-handedly plays an entire school of characters, and
she doesn’t miss a beat. Brilliantly she morphs from shy Sophie to
sexed-up Stacey, or cynical teacher Carla to prep-princess Krystelle.
We are first introduced to Sophie who is writing a diary entry in
her journal re the upcoming Deb ball. This shy darling is going to
need help with her dress, date, dance moves, and well…everything
else. I instantly fell in love with this naïve, sweet character who
mirrors many real-life girls and the social troubles they face at
school.
McLennan then transforms into preppy Krystelle who is exercising in
preparation for the ball; a 10km run every day and
yoga in the sauna until she faints. She’s had her dress
for two years and can’t wait to live out her fantasy “second most
important day of her life” with long-time boyfriend Matty, for whom
she’s saving her virginity. Her fairy-tale scrapbook includes
hairstyle options and possible modes of transport to the ball – like
a hot air balloon. As head of the ball committee she directs the
other students in ball etiquette, such as aiming for a date “in your
league”.
 McLennan
is hilarious as teenager Stacey, my personal favourite. She likes to
text, date, and undergo colonic hydrotherapy with her gay friend
Adam every Thursday. Bitchy and candidly blunt, the audience howled
with laughter as she “like, totally, like, said it how it is”.
Stacey’s mission is to snag the hottest Deb ball partner in school
after getting a matching boob job with her Mum.
Gay best-friend Adam is crossing his fingers and toes that
the school denies him the opportunity to bring his disabled
boyfriend to the Deb, so it can be a headline story on TV’s
Sunrise with Mel and Koshi.
Carla is a lonely 29-year-old English teacher who will deny her
desire for a man until she’s blue in the face. Her pessimistic
attitude toward the Deb ball, and life in general, is by far the
funniest element of this show. Smoking in the schoolyard is the
usual setting for her rants, telling young lovers to stop sucking
faces and muttering to herself that “they’ll learn one day”.
Many of the other characters include Mr. Gerrity; the perverted
teacher who last year ran the “Burlesque” themed ball, Matty;
Krystelle’s AFL playing husband-to-be who’d rather have sex with
teachers, and Adam’s mum; a gay rights activist.
The Debutante Diaries
had roaring success at the 2007 Melbourne International Comedy
Festival, and won the 2006 Melbourne Fringe “Best Comedy” Award.
It’s obvious why as mastermind McLennan has written this production
herself and clearly knows it back to front. She vividly portrays
each individual, changing her look dramatically from age 15 to 30
through only voice, stance, and facial expressions.
Unfortunately this show was only in Brisbane for two nights, but
hopefully, if we are lucky enough, we will see Kate McLennan and
The Debutante Diaries back for another round. This is a show not
to be missed!
Kellie Scott reviews for her website
www.brisbanecritiques.com, which was launched in October of
2008. Her reviews can also sometimes be found at
www.absolutetheatre.com.au. Previously her critiques for music
and film have been published in The Catholic Leader and The
Satellite newspapers. She is currently studying Journalism at
university, and hopes to use this to develop her writing skills,
focusing on becoming a professional critic in the future. If you
would like to contact Kellie, please email
kellie@brisbanecritiques.com.
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