3.5 stars
BITE ME is a bittersweet romp through the world of desire, body image and self-worth from the perspective of an avocado, a chilli, and a steak on the shelf at the local supermarket. This sounds like a setup for a joke, and BITE ME delivers on that promise.
Image courtesy of Sian Murphy
The avocado and chilli present themselves for sale as shoppers walk by, performing a provocative dance. The avocado accentuates her voluptuous curves, while the chilli shows just how hot she can be.
However, once the shoppers are gone, the fruits relax and the audience is treated to their real-life personas.
The overwhelming need to be ‘chosen’ and taken off the market is shown through the avocado’s repetition of empty mantras, self-affirmations, and relentless exercise. Culminating in that too-often heard question: ‘Does my bump look good?’
When a steak is set down in their section, the avocado and chilli enter into a competition to be chosen first. Through this interaction, BITE ME comments on the way women are conditioned to seek male validation and acceptance through their physical image. A drive that is often detrimental to their relationships with each other.
The audience was appreciative of the many quirks and observations BITE ME offered. The performances were solid as the three women danced, wiggled and dreamt their way around the stage. At times, the antics of the three characters risked delving too far into caricature and losing the potency of the ‘meat-market’ metaphor. However, the podium and spotlight were used to great effect to both highlight the women in ‘display mode’ and focus on their inner wishes and desires.
The analogy of the supermarket brings levity to the serious issues of female body image and the male gaze. In a world where women are seen as commodities for male consumption, this delightful production brings a quirky and funny twist to a serious problem.
Tickets available at the FRINGE WORLD website.
SUZANNE MOORE