Mama Does Derby theatre review: Full-contact feelings
Windmill Theatre Company’s theatrical roller derby show makes for a thrilling spectacle with heart
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One can only imagine the fever dream of the brainstorming session that set co-creators Clare Watson and Virginia Gay rolling on the track to this large-scale production at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre. ‘A mother-daughter story but make it big. In fact, make it roller derby.’ Tick, tick and tick.
Mama Does Derby is indeed set on a roller derby track; as you enter the cavernous space you see the local real-life skaters gliding by, warming up and making it look easy. They’re a vital part of what follows, moving set and props around, getting the audience geed up and taking part in some beautifully choreographed set-pieces, including a highly effective climactic derby bout. Plus, there’s also a (brilliant) live band on stage for most of the action. It’s safe to say there’s a lot going on; perhaps that makes it inevitable that the story can’t compete with the sheer amount of stage business and music surrounding it. It dances lightly over the surface of the central relationship between Billie and her mother, the flaky but well-meaning Maxine, in a predictable arc that doesn’t emotionally connect. In contrast and surprisingly more effective is Billie’s relationship with Nathan, her inner demon, voiced by Antoine Jelk and played by the rubber-limbed dancer/contortionist Benjamin Hancock.
Windmill Theatre Company is best-known for creating work aimed at younger people and families and there’s no doubt this is the perfect show to get teens and pre-teens off the screens and into the theatre. All credit to Adelaide Festival for supporting large-scale work that’s both exciting and accessible to this age group, for just a few dollars more than the average fringe ticket. This is gig-theatre: fun, fast and furious, just like the roller derby it represents.
Mama Does Derby continues at Adelaide Entertainment Centre until March 8; picture: Tony Lewis.