Written by Dalara Williams, Directed by Ian Michael
With dialogue so juicy, gleefully hilarious and tender at the same time, ‘Big Girls Don’t Cry’ feels like a true treat
Reviewed by Grace Ackary
Belvoir St. Theatre
Until 27th of April 2025
Tickets: https://belvoir.com.au/productions/big-girls-dont-cry/
Type: New Writing, Indigenous Stories, Dramedy
If You Liked: Favour by Ambreen Razia, Rainbow’s End by Jane Harrison, Redfern Now
“Why should people come and see the show? To see another aspect of Aboriginal life, one that we never get a chance to tell. Just black joy and black love amongst friends, amongst siblings, amongst romantic partners.” – Playwright Dalara Williams.
Big Girls Don’t Cry takes us right to the heart of the Indigenous experience of Australia in the 1960s, weaving its way through the highs and lows of female friendship with comedy and vulnerability – the girls sing to and ruthlessly make fun of each other, and fall in love.
Williams’ dialogue is so juicy, so gleefully hilarious and tender at the same time, that watching these characters fight to understand each other feels like a true treat. Williams brings us a cast of characters so rife with life that we cannot help but deeply invest in their stories as we are transported to Redfern, 1966, with three young Aboriginal girls and their new venture into the bustling city, with jobs, societal upheaval, men (!) and each other to contend with.
Megan Wilding stuns as the ever-hilarious Queenie, while Stephanie Somerville exudes understated wisdom in her quieter yet utterly sweet Lulubell. Wilding especially, invites us – challenges us – over and over again to engage with her, hear her, see her, and to understand her. A reality she constantly fights for. She is unapologetically feminine, snarky, sassy, and loud.
Williams herself takes to the stage as the gorgeously embattled Cheryl – struggling with mourning the loss of her relationship with Michael (Mathew Cooper), who is overseas at war in Vietnam, and keeping her freedom fighting brother Ernie (Guy Simon) out of harm’s way.
Stephen Curtis’ set is clever and simplistic – bright red stools and classic coke bottles create the social hub of a milk bar. Later, a few suitably beat-up wooden chairs, and tall glasses with lime atop a table rife with (we imagine) sodden beer coasters becomes a tension-filled local pub. An expansive red curtain with elegant ballroom chairs, puts us right in the middle of the longed-for debutante ball in the later part of the show.
…furious and phenomenal, the scenes are enthralling
Costume design by Emma White is nuanced and effective, adding character, personality and a bright sixties flair to the stage. The atmospheric lighting from Kelsey Lee transforms even simple scene changes into moody or excited Redfern backstreets complete with groovy Beatles nods keeping the vibe continuously high. Brendon Boney’s sound design and composition is consistently interesting and evocative throughout.
Direction by Ian Michael is thoroughly enjoyable: the cast comes out from the audience, yells from backstage, linger on tender moments, and performs stage fighting remarkably convincingly (choreography from Nigel Poulton and Ella Evangelista) all without feeling contrived or pushed. The direction manages to highlight and capture both delicate intimacy and brutal ferocity. Audience members were raucously laughing (Ernest and Queenie are particularly delightful), audibly “oohing” in dismay, and gasping in shock.
Big Girls Don’t Cry hits every note right in its production at Belvoir St. Theatre. The script is furious and phenomenal, the scenes are enthralling, and the audience is left engaged throughout.
Theatre Thought: How we do we look back on the past in order to explore the contemporary?
Cast
Stephanie Somerville – Lulu
Megan Wilding – Queenie
Dalara Williams – Cheryl
Bryn Chapman Parish – Officer Robinson
Mathew Cooper – Michael
Nic English – Milo
Guy Simon – Ernie
Creatives
Dalara Williams Writer
Ian Michael Director
Stephen Curtis Set Designer
Kelsey Lee Lighting Designer
Brendon Boney Composer and Sound Designer
Emma White Costume Designer
Chloë Dallimore Intimacy Coordinator
Nigel Poulton Fight Director
Elle Evangelista Choreographer
Laura Farrell Voice Coach
Angeline Penrith First Nations Community Liaison
Abbie-lee Lewis Assistant Director
Isabella Kerdijk Stage Manager
Maddison Craven Assistant Stage Manager
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