‘A woman’s place is in the Void.’
The Co-Conspirators bring their sold-out Seattle premiere to the Fringe with a heady mix of psychosexual feminist horror and surreal comedy.
Leah’s life is a mess: work is overwhelming, her long-term boyfriend Kennedy is a nuisance and there’s too much pressure to organise parties for her friends. So when she snaps and screams into the void one day, she’s shocked to find the Void turns up in person as an alluring woman with a tempting offer: sponsorship of her upcoming Halloween party.
What starts as a seemingly run-of-the-mill US sitcom setup quickly descends into dark surrealism, sharp humour and unexpected novelty inflatable outfits. Jenifer Ewing as the Void steals the show, by turns coy and commanding and bringing Leah under her spell. Leah’s unlikeable boyfriend played by Jed Mathre had the mainly Gen-Z audience rolling their eyes in recognition, while Kelly Karcher’s portrayal of barely concealed desire shines in her encounters with her new, sexy visitor.
Ludicrous as the idea of a Void sponsorship is, there’s a deeper analysis of how far women might go to reclaim agency over their lives. If, like Leah, you’re standing on a precipice staring into the void, is the temptation to jump in too strong?
Sponsored by the Void is a smart, sexy take on modern existential dread that will especially resonate with young audiences – and you’ll never look at a shark the same way again.
****
Sponsored by the Void is at Greenside Riddle’s Court from 8-16 Aug (not 10).