‘Love, Loss and What I Wore’ is set to open at Tugun Theatre later this year, with auditions starting in February. Before the whirlwind of rehearsals begins, I had the opportunity to chat with the show’s director, Judy Neumann.
‘Love, Loss and What I Wore’ is a readers theatre play written by Nora and Delia Ephron, writers whom Judy greatly admires. The show performed Off-Broadway for around four to five years, and now, this year, its making its debut at Tugun Theatre.
Judy explained that bringing this show to the stage would allow for more movement and excitement to be added. It’s one thing to sit and watch actors read from the script, but Judy has plans for how this play will be performed.
‘I’m going to have little dances,’ she said. ‘And people will model the clothes…I just thought, if we can find something that’s kind of similar [to the described clothes], I think we should […] make it a little more interesting and liven it up.’
While you may be thinking this show is all about clothes, its so much more. Clothes are our identity, they can act as an enemy or as armour. You can feel glorious or you can feel ten feet tall. You can feel confident or you can feel uncomfortable. This story emphasises the power clothing has to change your life, to help and heal, or to frustrate and tear you down.
Consider this show a glimpse into the struggles women face daily. Symbolised by what they wear, don’t wear, can’t wear or can’t stop wearing.
‘You will love this show if you’re a woman, or love a woman, even if you just know a woman,’ Judy said.
Clothes hold so much power over people, and yet they also act as an expression of ones self. ‘Love, Loss and What I Wore’ explores how identity is expressed through what we wear, how what happens in our life is reflected in our clothing choices.
The stories in this show are ones everyone can identify with, regardless of where you are in life. It’s timeless, it’s relatable, its, as Judy put it, ‘witty and deep’.
‘Its a glimpse into women’s souls,’ Judy said. ‘Its the truth of what women are all about and the importance of clothing in their relationships, their memories, their relationships with their mothers, with men, with lovers.’
So what can you expect when you see the show? Its different to anything Tugun has seen before. Comprised of little monologues and vignettes, the show weaves together the different stories of the women in a funny yet moving way. There are so many different elements that everyone who comes to see it will find something to relate to.
‘You can identify with them all, some in more ways than others,’ Judy said when asked about which character she relates to the most. ‘But I can identify with all of them. I’ve been there, like, oh this doesn’t fit because I’m too big, I’m too small…big boobs, smaller boobs, if I was taller, if I was shorter.’
‘Love, Loss and What I Wore’ speaks to everyone on so many levels, whether you are a woman and can relate to these stories or you know a woman and want that glimpse into how powerful clothing can be.
Keep your eyes out for more updates.
‘Love, Loss and What I Wore’ will play at Tugun Theatre from May 9th-31st.
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