Petite Kate McLennan sure does pack a punch with her award-winning show, which consists of a series of monologues by several concerned parties of a high school debutante ball. Whether you have done your deb or not, you can relate to the characters portrayed in this show because they exist in every high school, so I believe it would appeal to a wide audience.
Each character has their own agenda and their own equally deluded ambitions. First there’s Chrystelle, who is in charge of the deb organising committee. She has been planning for her “wedding dress rehearsal” since she was pre-pubescent, but will all her years of planning pay off?
Shy and innocent Sophie just wants to feel beautiful and make her family proud. Her underprivileged circumstances are a barrier in the lead up to her dream night however. Sophie was clearly the underdog in this story so the audience warmed to this character with compassion.
There is the obligatory bitch, Stacey whose manipulative ploys lead to some interesting situations. Stacey’s best friend, Adam hopes to create controversy when he signs up a male partner, and Chrystelle’s boyfriend Matty has a secret of his own. With other funny characters with excessive tendencies and the multitude of sub plots taking place in this show, it is an absorbing hour of entertainment.
I marveled at the intensity in Kate’s portrayal of each character and the sheer pace of the show. There are many underlying issues explored including peer pressure, body image and social status, and beside the humour lies raw emotion. A few hands were seen in the audience wiping away tears during the final touching scenes, which is a credit to Kate as an accomplished performer.
“The Debutante Diaries” runs from Tuesday to Sunday until the 29th April. For full details go to the MICF website