Review: Collective Rage – A Play in Five Betties, Southwark Playhouse

“My PUSSY is not gonna do the acting. 
I am gonna do the acting. 
In THE THEA-TAH.”

As Collective Rage‘s sub-title suggests, there’s a whole lotta Betty in Jen Silverman’s play. From an Upper East Sider unhappy with her husband to a disillusioned Latina, a younger woman also unhappy with her husband to a genderqueer ex-con via a lesbian would-be mechanic, it turns out – in some ways – we are all Betty, #JeSuisBetty, #BettysArmy.

For these five particular and very different Betties though, being brought together by the power of theatre provides an opportunity to explore something more about their Bettiness. They investigate hidden desires, bristle at others’ ambitions, discover the power of their own vagina in one case, and with a raucous, drag cabaret inspired vibe, is punchily energetic.  

 It is deliberately chaotic and more than a little self-referential, which makes it occasionally a little arch, but Sara Stewart, Lucy McCormick, Beatriz Romilly, Johnnie Fiori, and Genesis Lynea are fiercely committed as the titular fivesome. And Charlie Parham’s production feels like a necessary corrective to the dominance of the G in LGBTQ, it’s very much the turn of the L and the Q here and about fucking time too.

Running time 80 minutes (without interval)
Photo: Jack Sain

Booking until 17th February

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