Songs For Slutty Girls, The Other Palace Review
Written by Charlotte for Theatre & Tonic
Disclaimer: Gifted tickets in exchange for an honest review.
If you’ve ever found yourself plagued by the question: what if Disney’s Inside Out was sexually explicit and also a musical, Kailey Marshall has an answer for you. Songs for Slutty Girls is a fiery new pop/R&B musical following the sexual and romantic escapades of a year in the life of a twenty-one year old woman as told by her head, heart, gut, and hips. Outfitted in bright, colour-coded outfits, these four elements of the unnamed heroine navigate just about everything from hinge dating to body insecurities, STI testing to sex parties. Upon first glance, this pick n’ mix assortment of sexual clichés has every potential to make a piece that is tired and cringey, but Marshall’s book is sharp-tongued and honest, largely avoiding relying on expected, overdone jokes
The score itself is a mixed bag. While there are a number of songs that feel wedged in for character’s sake and lack dynamic, there are also a handful of what can only be described as harmonic pop anthems that bring a punchy balance of vocal vigour and full, rhythmic melodies. When she gets that formula just right, Marshall has the audience grooving along in their seats, and it’s truly good fun.
Fun is the opportune descriptor for this upbeat seventy-five minute show, but Songs for Slutty Girls still makes an earnest attempt to tackle some less laughable elements of sexual culture. The unnamed heroine faces men who are unfaithful, misogynist, and even violent. She tries to navigate her attraction to women and reconcile her identity as a ‘fun girl’ who isn’t suitable for settling down. Some of these themes play better than others, with the sudden tonal shifts sometimes landing an effective emotional impact while other times feeling a tad unnecessary and even distasteful in their abrupt inclusion. Perhaps the most confusion left turn the show makes is its ending, which, despite a beautiful 11 o’clock ballad, and without spoiling it, feels very much as though it comes from another show entirely.
For the most part, though, Songs for Slutty Girls is a rousing, hilariously good time, landing more than a few painfully resonant riffs on women’s experiences in modern dating culture – a song begging ‘can I get a cheer for the good guys?’ earning especially raucous laughter. Infused with moments of uproarious audience interaction, Tania Azevedo’s direction realises each abstract character as a distinct caricature, be it Head or Hips, while maintaining enough personality for them to skillfully connect with and play off the audience. All four performers are true talents who form a perfect ensemble, though I cannot help but highlight Charlotte Jaconelli’s stoically funny performance as Hips.
Overall, Songs for Slutty Girls makes a strong UK premiere with this production. Whether its future is the fringe, university drama, or a sit-down well-suited for a girl’s night out, its raunchy, relatable humour coupled with its upbeat, danceable tunes situate it with plenty of potential for what’s next.
☆ ☆ ☆ ☆
