Review: Banging Denmark
Banging Denmark is a modern, romantic, satirical comedy of opposites about the ways in which the contemporary ‘game’ of love—or is it just sexual conquest—is played. A misogynistic pick-up-podcaster/management consultant turns to a feminist gaming academic for advice as to how to set up a date with the unattainable Danish librarian of his dreams. And the scene is set for the battle of the sexes—featuring the ‘rules of the game’ of seduction, and lots of references to sport, fighting, conquest… and friendship.
The talented Heid Gledhill (Director) is a natural fit for Van Badham’s Banging Denmark. In the program note, Gledhill speaks about the play as being ‘a mirror to the absurdity of the world we navigate in our quest for connection and love.’ A director who has worked with Dario Fo, who spent time in a commedia dell’arte troupe, and who now runs an acting school and specialises in intimacy direction, is exceptionally well-qualified to direct a play in which ‘Van Badham throws a bomb at the rom-com in a badly-behaved comedy of sex, love, modern manners and ancient vanities.’ Gledhill has brought together a strong cast and fellow creatives to bring the show to the PIP Theatre stage.
On the subject of the stage, I loved the traverse use of the PIP Theatre space—which Helena Trupp (Design, Set & Costumes) describes as setting ‘Banging Denmark’s playful and dynamic battle of the sexes […] on a stage reminiscent of a tennis match.’ The Director and cast did a great job in ensuring that audiences on each side of the traverse had a really good experience—which could not have always been easy, particularly when portraying the moments of intimacy.
I enjoyed Tegan Braithwaite’s portrayal of the feminist gaming academic, Ishtar Madigan—with highlights being the dilemma as to whether to accept any payment from a former adversary, the librarian seduction scene, and the interactions with Madigan’s former nemesis. Braithwaite has a great voice (wait for the singing toward the end of the show), and it was a joy to watch Braithwaite taking Ishtar Madigan on a journey from frenzied poverty to drunken friendship.
Denyse Kim’s development of the character of loyal friend (Janaki Gerard) and love interest of the awkward Toby Bello (Dudley Powell) was entertaining—with a definite highlight being the ‘morning after’ scene with Laine and Braithwaite, and the ‘resolution’ declarations of love between Powell and Kim. Amelia Slatter’s portrayal of the Danish rare books’ librarian, Anne Toft, was deliciously ice-cool and ‘really Dewey’ (what a line!)—which made the seduction scene even more entertaining.
But the standout performance of the show was by Rijen Laine (Jake Newhouse/ Guy de Wit), who navigates the challenges of portraying a quite appalling sexual predator and ’seduction community’ podcaster who discovers that some targets are immune to his techniques, and (spoiler alert) learns that men and women can be friends. Laine gave a powerhouse performance, and I look forward to seeing future leading roles by this talented actor.
Congratulations to PIP Theatre on an excellent production, and to the rest of the creative and support teams (particularly Tommi Civili, Sound Design & Operation, and Noah Milne, Lighting Design & Operation). There was so much that I enjoyed in this production (despite it including the portrayal of some disgusting misogynistic language and world views) but … and there is a big ‘but’…. I understand that the 2019 Sydney Theatre Company world premiere of this play ran for 100 minutes, with no interval. I agree that the play works well with an interval, but I also felt that this 2024 production ran too long. Perhaps a shorter first half, and a tighter second half, would help—even if this means that the ‘slomo’ moments in the second half seduction scene need to be lost.
Verdict: A great choice by PIP Theatre: excellent direction and staging, and strong leading performances by Rijen Laine and Tegan Braithwaite. But I’d prefer to have seen this run much shorter.
Audience information: Banging Denmark (7-23 March 2024), PIP Theatre, 20 Park Road, Milton QLD 4064. 160 minutes (including a 20-minute interval). 18+. Sexual references, strong language, and adult themes (including sexual harassment and trolling). Tickets $40-50.
The attended the 8 March 2024 opening night performance.
Source: PIP Theatre