What: Ladylike: A Modern Guide to Etiquette
Who: Louise Beuvink
Where: The Owl Room at the Masonic Lodge
When: 23rd Feb – 3rd March
How much: $23-$26
The boisterous and brazen Louise Beuvink dominates the stage in her cabaret-esqe show, Ladylike: A Modern Guide to Etiquette. This polished and fully-realised feminist satire, having just had a successful run at the 2018 Edinburgh Fringe, has landed at the Adelaide Fringe. Beuvink, a New Zealand native, approaches topics that have plagued women in a patriarchal society; taking these unrealistic, yet still commonplace, expectations and discussing them with refreshing relatability.
A stand-out aspect of the show is Beuvink’s palpable confidence as she scrutinizes the aspects of womanhood that are within society and media today. As she struts across the stage in her 1950’s party dress, pink lipstick and electric pink heels (immediately taken off upon commencement of the show, for obvious reasons), Beuvink stresses the importance of a women’s appearance, their weight and their duties within the household; all generously drizzled with a healthy amount sarcasm.
Ladylike certainly provides a vast amount of variety crammed into one performance including a cooking demonstration, an uproarious musical number and a makeup tutorial. These sketches are spread amongst traditional standup and some choice anecdotes regarding, but not limited to, vagina steaming, pubes and defecation. While the tone of the show is very lighthearted, she does acknowledge through her satire more pertinent feminist issues, aside from the stereotypes and the commercialisation of low self-esteem in tweens.
While this show is broadly attended by participants in a girls’ night out, it shouldn’t deter a male audience. By all means, I encourage all to see this ebullient and captivating comedienne in her element.
4.5/5 stars
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