Banging Denmark is making its European premiere at Finborough Theatre in West Brompton for a four-week run starting on April 16th 2024.
Billed as a black comedy rom-com written by Finborough Theatre’s former Literary Manager Van Badham. There’s been an horrendous backlash on social media platforms towards Ishtar Madigan (Rebecca Blackstone) whose a staunch feminist academic and has been sued and lost to a misogynist male online guru.
After months of being stalked and harassed, she is forced to take up camp in the photocopier room at the University. Living on rations that can be hydrated with hot water from the kettle! Food deliveries come in by one of her ex-students Dr Denise Kim (Jodie Tyack) and her “close” friend Toby (James Jip).
Jake Newhouse (Tom Kay) leads a double life as a management consultant by day and a misogynistic online guru at night whose appalling one-line chat-up lines and reverse psychology behaviour apparently will have women falling at your feet! However, when he meets Danish Librarian Anne (Maja Simonsen) he realises that all of his advice and games do not affect her.
Newhouse’s performance as the misogynist is chillingly uncomfortable at times. With the likes of Andrew Tate in this world they are going to be men out there who still believe that this is the way to treat women and this is their preferred art of seduction!
Jake is undeterred by Anne’s rejection and decides to ask the destitute academic Ishtar to help in his quest to “woo her” by offering her an enormous amount of money. Apparently everyone has a price despite their deep rooted principles!
Leah Kelly co-set designer has utilised all the stage space available at Finborough Theatre to create separate rooms for the characters to reside. From the cramped photocopier room to the empty pizza box-littered flat where Jake lives also known as a yacht!
In an hour and forty-five minutes it feels slightly drawn out at times. The concept is funny and there are plenty of laughs throughout despite the misogyny and unethical carrying on. Does he win the fair maiden, there’s only one way to find out.
For more information on Banging Denmark and future productions at Finborough Theatre please click on the link below.
Four Stars
Photo Credit Ali Wright
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