Sydney Reviews

The dissembling and deformed Dick in Shakespeare’s Richard III mouths outright, overt misogyny in his blatant, belligerent blaming line “When men are ruled by women”.

This sneering, snide, sexist sentiment, still a virulent strain in mainstream society and highly resistant and perniciously persistent in Australian politics is given marvellous macroscopic examination in Joanna Murray-Smith’s Julia.

Briefly celebrated by all, Julia Gillard’s ascendancy to the office of Prime Minister soon suffered backlash, a sort of “gendercide” prosecuted by the press and the Opposition, decrying her marital status, childlessness, and fashion sense. This deluge of derision and discrimination wasn’t just levelled at derailing a government. It sprang from a deep-seated sexism and accompanying hypocrisy.

In that sense, Julia is much more than a straight biographical play but a judgement on the world where outmoded, mouldy misogyny continues to exist. A world that seems to encourage the breaking of so-called glass ceilings only to lacerate those who do so.

Nevertheless, it is Julia’s story that provides the spine of the story, from childhood social justice advocate who “accelerated towards the boom gate of caution”, to adult lawyer and top negotiator, and onto federal politics and the leader of the land.

Murray-Smith takes the base metal of history and creates a magical imagined alchemy brilliantly served by Justine Clarke in the title role and Jessica Bentley fluidly serving a myriad of roles and representations, under the astute direction of Sarah Goodes.

Compromise and pragmatism and the punishing price of public scrutiny are caught in the spotlight as the production makes its sprightly journey to the famous speech where she famously took the podium and vented her spleen against Tony Abbott, immaculately articulated, brilliantly timed, an oration worthy of ovation. Just like this production.

The emphatic emotion and passion and defiance of her speech, not to be lectured, hectored, deflected or defeated is pure theatrical gold, an awesome command of drama.

“I will not.” is Julia’s catch cry. “I will not miss it.” should be yours.