The Pack of Woman was a cabaret devised by Australian performer and director Robyn Archer, first performed in London in 1981. Although funny and entertaining, the work also set out to shock audiences into examining the role of women in Western society. The title is a metaphor for the game of life played according to rules in which sexual politics were critical. In 1983, it was produced by Understudies (Sue Hill & Chris Westwood), directed by Archer and designed by Roger Kirk. It played seasons in Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Canberra with a cast consisting of Jane Clifton, Judi Connelli and Michele Fawdon.[1][2]
| The Pack of Women | |
|---|---|
| Written by | Robyn Archer |
| Directed by | Ted Robinson |
| Starring | Robyn Archer Judi Connelli Tracy Harvey |
| Country of origin | Australia |
| Original language | English |
| Original release | |
| Network | ABC |
| Release | 1986 |
The Pack of Women was subsequently made into a 1986 television special for the ABC featuring Archer, Connelli, Tracy Harvey, Jo Kennedy and Meryl Tankard.[3] Described as "perhaps the most daring and unashamedly radical thing to happen to Aunty in a long time", it contained the first use of the word cunt on Australian television.[4][5] The soundtrack won the inaugural ARIA Award for Best Original Soundtrack or Cast Album.[6]
Television soundtrack
edit| The Pack of Women | |
|---|---|
| Soundtrack album by Various | |
| Released | 1986 |
| Label | ABC Records |
| Producer | Andrew Bell |
Track listing
edit- LP/Cassette
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Vocals | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Is That Me?" | R. Archer, Andrew Bell | Jo Kennedy | 3:07 |
| 2. | "Whose Pleasure?" | R. Archer, A. Bell | Robyn Archer | 3:40 |
| 3. | "Waiting Too Long" | R. Archer, A. Bell | Judi Connelli, Tracy Harvey, Jo Kennedy | 2:11 |
| 4. | "In Business" | R. Archer, A. Bell | Jo Kennedy | 3:13 |
| 5. | "Nobody Sings" | C. Churchill/M. Random | Tracy Harvey | 2:23 |
| 6. | "(S)he's a Rebel" | G. Pitney | Jo Kennedy | 2:10 |
| 7. | "Coupling" | R. Archer | Judi Connelli | 2:39 |
| 8. | "Sweet Solitary Blues" | R. Archer | Robyn Archer | 4:06 |
| 9. | "The Ballad of Dancing Doreen" | R. McTell | Judi Connelli | 3:05 |
| 10. | "Suburban Sonnet" | G. Harwood, R. Archer | Robyn Archer | 2:54 |
| 11. | "Menstruation Blues" | R. Archer | Judi Connelli, Robyn Archer, Maree Steinway, Tracy Harvey | 3:39 |
| 12. | "Dig Deeper" | R. Archer, A. Bell | Robyn Archer, Meryl Tankard, Judi Connelli, Tracy Harvey, Jo Kennedy | 3:03 |
References
edit- ^ "A pack of talented women". The Age. 24 June 1983. Retrieved 23 July 2015.
- ^ "AusStage".
- ^ Ed. Scott Murray, Australia on the Small Screen 1970-1995, Oxford Uni Press, 1996 p126
- ^ "Five aces and a royal flush". Sydney Morning Herald. 20 October 1986. Retrieved 23 July 2015.
- ^ "Meglomania, passion and feeling is what this producer is looking for". Sydney Morning Herald. 20 October 1986. Retrieved 23 July 2015.
- ^ Robyn Archer website accessed 17 July 2013