Fat Pig review

(image from Queensland Theatre Company)

I … enjoyed it. I think. Mostly.

Good points?

The theatre itself is a nice open space, with good acoustics, and each actor was heard clearly. The set design was done well. It was simple and allowed the focus to be on the actors and the acting. Having simple set design also means less time waiting for scene transitions and they were all pulled off very smoothly. Lastly, Helen – I thought Amy Ingram did a great job with the part. I really identified with her, which is probably no surprise.

I don’t want to call them “bad points”, because I don’t consider them completely to be “bad” per se. I just took issue with a few things. Whether or not that was to do with the production itself or the play, I’m not entirely sure.

Ok, here are my issues:

I find it common to Australian productions of plays I have seen, for some of the acting to come across as self-conscious. I found it the same here. It was confusing to hear Australian actors referencing the metric system and the “Chicago” office. I was conscious of some of the actors Acting and not being the part – in particular, the character of Jeannie bordered on caricature. Whether that was an acting choice or the actress not being given much to go on, I don’t know.

Speaking of not much to go on, I felt like the character of Helen wasn’t especially and sufficiently explored. Yes, the play is written from Tom’s perspective, so it’s obvious he is going to get the most ‘face time’ and exploration, but ultimately, I felt like the play came across as oh dear, those “poor menfolk.” They have it so very hard.

I found myself feeling so much more horrible for Helen than for Tom. He has the choice to stand up to his colleagues, rebel against the conformity (and let’s not talk about what issues THAT brings up – oh dear, you’re rebelling because you’re dating a fat chick. What a shocker) and follow what could be true love. She … has to put up with a man who isn’t sure he can be enough of a grown up, who cares way too much about what people think, who wants to hide her from the world yet she is so desperate to stay with him she offers to actually physically change herself (liposuction, surgery, lap band, gastric bypass) to do so – presumably because she is fat and think she can get no one else? Despite being funny and good-looking?

Ugh.