I Was a Teenage She-Devil at The Other Palace Review
Written by Becky K for Theatre and Tonic
Disclaimer: Tickets were gifted in return for an honest review. All views are our own
Sean Matthew Whiteford’s new 80’s queer horror comedy, I Was a Teenage She-Devil, hits up The Other Palace Studio. Packed with energy and impressive rock-opera vocals, Whiteford’s love letter to camp 80s films unfortunately has more attack than substance.
Set in the lead-up to a prom in an 80’s high school, all outcast Nancy Nelson (Aoife Haakenson) wants is to be a somebody. When she reaches her final straw after another cruel prank is played on her, she gets a visit from the devil himself and embarks on her epic transformation to sweet revenge.
Whiteford pays homage to 80s cult classic films throughout the show, ticking all the boxes for what you would predict to see: a thirty-five year old high school jock, a friends-to-lovers romance and a dramatic climax around the school prom. Famous films such as Carrie and Back to the Future are quoted and timestamped in the script, which is a nice addition to the show’s genre.
Director and choreographer Rachel Klein makes the most of the cabaret-style space, which is perhaps a little too small for the ambitious scale of this production. While the choreography was dynamic and playful, it was sometimes cramped when the whole cast were on stage. The overall design was a lovely explosion of colour, with the fun costume design from Juda Leah being a standout in the production. Her glamorous prom gowns, loud ra ra skirts and heightened glam-rock outfits elevated the production entirely.
The cast is a powerhouse of vocal performances, with each character offering an impressive display of riffs and plenty of attitude. Particular shoutouts go to Haakenson’s range, especially when she goes from Nancy’s shy self to becoming a sultry she-devil. Likewise, there were also great vocal performances from Sean Arkless, who performed as a fearless rock-star Satan and Caitlin Anderson, who portrayed the stereotypical cheerleader bully Tiffani really well.
However, every single number was at the same octane, where the show ultimately became lost in the score. It felt like there was little ebb and flow in the story’s pace and development which was ultimately at the detriment of the characters and themes. Sadly, the queer storyline was left unfocused, but with more plot development and moments of light and shade, this will certainly make a super fun, well-rounded show.
I Was a Teenage She-Devil is performing at The Other Palace until 26th April.
★★
