Grand Central at the Arts Theatre, Sat Mar 9
  

I Am Woman is a brilliant walk down memory lane for those old enough to remember the Australia of the 60s and 70s, and a comprehensive introduction to the music and values of the period for later generations. It also serves as something of an ironic, satirical history lesson.  (Homosexuals were all in jail; lesbians were just good friends!) With songs, stories, slides and occasional pre-recorded sound grabs from the past the show does an excellent job of taking you back to these previous eras.

What is so obvious, and again with a touch of irony, is how joyous the music of the 60s was. Bright little three minute pop songs brought back the likes of Little Pattie, Noelene Batley, and Judy Stone. And Amelia Ryan and Libby O’Donovan do this stuff so well. Their vocal delivery and in-synch choreography (they’d have made great go-go dancers) is spot on, and their between song patter is lively and often hilarious. Some great on-stage chemistry is there for all to enjoy.

But underneath all this joy and laughter was the knowledge that for many, women in particular, the 60s were a dreadful time. Locked up at home, told what to think, banned from pubs, and even those women who managed to perform in public were told what to wear and how to behave. Then I Am Woman creeps over into the 70s and things change. Women have won new freedoms and with it comes a new kind of female performer: Jeannie Lewis, the blues of Wendy Saddington, and Margaret Roadknight from the folk world. And these women brought a different feeling to popular music: it was music with an edge, power, and plenty of raw emotion. O’Donovan’s rendition of a Wendy Saddington blues classic had all of that. Ryan’s version of Roadknight’s Girls of Our Town was just beautiful.

Much of this show tugged at the hearts strings as we listened to songs from people who are no longer with us, or songs that reminded you of heady times so long ago. An incredible list of female performers was featured, and just in case anyone had been forgotten a medley of songs from 1960 to the present time made sure that everyone was included.

This is such a good show. Great music, two very funny performers who work really well together, and who manage to deliver serious messages with loads of humour, style, and panache.