Riot Grrrl Saves the World

Reviewed by Pauline Adamek ***This review first appeared on www.StageRaw.com*** RECOMMENDED Playwright Louisa Hill’s world-premiere play Riot Grrrl Saves The World (well directed by Scott Marden) tackles some significant issues with humor and vitality. The pervasive violence against women, the oppressive messages that permeate the media and pop culture, as well as restrictive attitudes at home and school are all given an airing by a group of teenage girls each finding their own voice through fresh, funny and authentic dialogue. While there is a justifiable undercurrent of anger and defiance beneath the way these heavy topics are addressed, Hill also ensures there is an abundance of joy, hilarity and positive energy in her political dra... full review

90s teen angst can be rocky territory if not done right, thankfully Riot Grrrl by Louisa Hill is just the right amount of angst with an abundance of teenage idealism and a bucket load of punk rock. Although the script is flawed (needs some more character development and the ending needs re-working), director Scott Marden and his fantastic all female cast make this an enjoyable and energetic production. Marden’s fast past and sharp direction with projections of zines mixed with composer Diego Davidenko’s punk rock sounds creates the perfect atmosphere for these teenage girls set on changing the world. Poonsm Basu as the Jehovah’s Witness Darla is ridiculously adorable as she comes to terms with her faith and sexuality. Steph (Emma Servant)... full review

Originally posted on Bitter Lemons: "Fringe Femmes" | "Riot Grrrl Saves the World (or, The Zine of Grrl)" by Louisa Hill | Man. To some of us, 1992 doesn't seem that long ago. But I'd guess that even for those who were in diapers (or not even?) then, Louisa Hill's exploration of the Riot Grrrl post-punk, third-wave feminism music and zine movement that began the '80s and '90s could not be more fun and fresh. So in Riot Grrrl Saves the World it's (kinda) 1992 and not only do we find three teens (Zoë Lillian, Emma Servant and Tiffany Mo) grrrling up for action, empowerment and self-discovery while putting together a garage band, but also an outsider (Poonam Basu) who finds them while distributing Jehovah's Witness materials about the en... full review