The Unmarried: Winged Cupid Painted Blind

The Unmarried @ The Underbelly Med Quad

Wow, Lauren Gauge’s The Unmarried is a mouthpiece for the conflicted feminists of my generation. The Unmarried follows Luna’s traverse through the world of sexuality and dating and how a woman deals with the societal pressures facing women of marrying age. Through the show she deals with pressures about finding a partner, buying a flat, having babies; but what if you’re a woman that realizes you may not want all that? What if you just want to be free to go where your desires lead you?

As a woman in my 30’s, The Unmarried was like a play by play account of my love life. My husband and I were together seven years before marriage and were subjected to many of the outside voices presented in this show. We too were the unmarried pressured to conform to what society tells us are the steps of adulthood; to pursue that piece of paper that makes your relationship somehow more complete and legitimate.

Lauren Gauge’s script is a revelation and the most well written of any I saw at the Fringe. I would buy a copy as soon as it’s published. At first, I was unaware of the complexities of Lauren’s dialogue until I realized she was rhyming. The Unmarried is written as a spoken-word long form poem underscored by 90’s club music and beatboxing. Her honest and poignant humor and ruminations make it hard to fault anything in this powerhouse production.

However, Georgia Bliss and Haydn-Sky’s performance can detract from what’s trying to be accomplished. For the majority of the show, the accompaniment they provide raises the verse to new heights; Haydn-Sky providing the literal heartbeat of the show. But, when Lauren gives pause to give them their moment to build the mood, the performances fall short. Georgia’s voice has good tone, and she is clearly a talented singer. However, the power behind her voice was lackluster. Within the moments that underscore Lauren’s performance, the sound levels were appropriate, however when the music overtakes the stage I wanted that strong, commanding voice that 90’s house music requires, but Georgia’s voice is much too subdued. Which brought down the late-night party vibe the show relies on to keep the energy of the piece sustained.

Perfect in its late-night slot, The Unmarried deserves a life after Fringe. Lauren Gauge’s velvety Shakespearian verse and entrancing presence are not to be missed.