All the Fraudulent Horse Girls, Lazy Yarns ·
The Blue Room Theatre, 20 January 2023 ·

I was never a horse girl.

In fact, I’d go so far as to say that my pre-teen identity was partially built in opposition to the horse girl. The equine obsession eluded me, but I was familiar with the magisterial charm they held for some of my classmates. In truth, I was (am) a bit scared of the giant beasts that could bolt or kick without warning, or even whip me with a flick of their mane.

The horse as a representation of raw power, of mercurialness, but with the potential to be tamed, forms a neat metaphor for the tumultuous and hormonal pre-teen period. It’s cleverly saddled in All the Fraudulent Horse Girls, presented by Lazy Yarns as part of The Blue Room Theatre’s Summer Nights program.

Eleven year-old Audrey (played in her first iteration by an effervescent Elise Wilson) loves horses. She can also speak telepathically to all the other genuine horse girls around the world. Wilson nailed the stream of consciousness narration of an obsessed child, radiating passion and heartache, and remaining un-rattled by a misbehaving prop. Wilson’s Audrey is so pure and so funny.

She’s joined by Lucy Wong, Courtney Henri and Hannah Davidson, who enter the stage from time to time as various characters. This is a dynamic cast – all four young women are superb.

When Audrey is out on a school excursion and sees a police horse, she feels compelled to try to steal it but instead gets kicked in the head. The work catapults into a concussed, fever dream inspired by Audrey’s current read, Cormac McCarthy’s All the Pretty Horses. This second Audrey is played by Lucy Wong, complete with a swagger and a Southern American accent.

Swooping in as a final Audrey at the end is Hannah Davidson. It’s hard to overstate what a fantastic comic actress Davidson is. She’s working with a great script from Mike Kennedy here: it’s polished and punchy, compact, familiar, witty and wildly funny. All the actors take those words and make them their own. Holding the reins director Mitchell Whelan has allowed each of them space to shine.

It’s Davidson’s ability to leave a trail of laughter-induced-tears in her wake that is a real gift for the audience. I’ve seen her perform in two theatre works in the last year, one of which was Pull the Pin, and she’s been the standout of both pieces.

Even the lighting design (Rhiannon Petersen) and sound (David Stewart) delivered impeccable comic timing.

All the Fraudulent Horse Girls is a frivolous experience that draws upon some not-so-frivolous themes. There is a strong queer, coming-of-age undercurrent to the text. The nature of obsession, friendship, bullying, identity and sexuality are considered in the work. These issues are addressed earnestly yet with levity: there is depth without the show becoming weighty. The result is a side-splitting romp.

An early call, but it will be hard to top All the Fraudulent Horse Girls this summer festival season.

Pictured top: Courtney Henri, Lucy Wong and and Hannah Davidson in ‘All the Fraudulent Horse Girls’ at The Blue Room Theatre. Photo: Sophie Minissale.

All the Fraudulent Horse Girls is at The Blue Room Theatre until 28 January 2023.