THEATRE: “Sisterhood of the Traveling Lighter” conjures a heartwarming ode to lifelong female friendships
On a rainy Perth night, huddled in front of a cosy stage of the Blue Room Theatre, audiences were taken on a personal trip through time. On the day of their university graduation, a time-travelling joint hurls four close childhood friends through pivotal moments in their lives; core memories that played key roles in defining who they are as individuals as they come of age, and, more importantly, their friendships with one another.
The main thing that will strike you about Sisterhood of the Traveling Lighter is its charm. Bolstered by production design that is minimalist yet steeped in personality, and by committed performances from its cast, it doesn’t take long for the play to hook us into the endearing but prickly camaraderie between Bree, Georgia, Nic, and Holly, an eclectic circle of close friends with very different life goals. Giddy with both dread and excitement, they help each other get ready for their uni graduation ceremony.
As the quartet ping-pong their way through writers Hannah Quaden and Courtney McManus’ snappy dialogue, we start to feel a sense of friction underneath their supportive encouragement and playful jabs. Is there something more going on with these women beyond the surface-level rosy picture they are putting on for each other? Sisterhood answers this question with the magic of time travel. The flashback structure of the story reveals itself in a delightful transition that playfully blends together technical manager Bec Price (AKA Perth musician Project BEXX)’s vibrant sound design and lighting, with some cheeky interpretive dancing by the cast. As the best friends struggle to find their way back into their own time, hopping from one formative experience to another, they are forced to confront some long-buried harsh truths about themselves and their friendship.
A story that shines such an intense spotlight on the relationships between its core characters tends to live and die by the chemistry between its cast, and thankfully, performers Shannon Rogers, Clea Purkis, Stella Banfield and McManus sparkle together as an ensemble.
Sisterhood is at its most fun when we live in the details and focus on the interplay between its characters, where we get to delight in the very Perth-specific references and pop culture mentions, as well as the petty arguments about seemingly trivial issues that only life-long ‘ride or die’ friends can have with each other. Director Ella Cooke seems clued into this, as she is able to leverage the vignette-style structure of the play and the sheer effervescence of the cast to give audiences an energetic and sincere celebration of female friendships.
It’s clear that Sisterhood has a lot to say, and it fearlessly capitalises on its well-defined characters to delve into more intricate subject matters, such as the complexities of navigating a toxic relationship and supporting someone you love through a mental health issue. While the play mostly manages to balance these serious topics with the more lighthearted elements of the story, I can’t help but feel like there is a missed opportunity here for a deeper, more nuanced exploration of the thought-provoking themes it brings up, by giving these ideas the space they need to breathe. That said, maybe the seeds planted in the play could just be the catalyst you need to start your own conversations after the show.
Sisterhood of the Traveling Lighter feels like a heartwarming, nostalgic slumber party, like one of those nights where silly fun with your friends unexpectedly veers into ‘deep and meaningful’ conversation territory, and you ponder about how you’re going to take on the world, together.
Sisterhood of the Traveling Lighter is showing at The Blue Room Theatre from 16 May - 3 June! Details here.
