Theatre Review: Schemes and Shit
A Mermaids Production
10/04/2023-11/04/2023
Directed by: Riley Christian
Written by: Nicole Gabrione
Reviewed by: Mariana Razina
Lovers of Regency-era drama, be it Bridgerton or Jane Austen are sure to appreciate Schemes & Shit's self-aware humour, sweeping passion and all-conquering love. The premise is simple and familiar: English gentlemen, played by Alex Young, Cat Martin and Nina Kashy hunt grouses (who are also present on stage) while women hunt for husbands. Despite clear modern touches expressed through music and language, the 18th-century context dictates that like in Austen’s novels, marriage has little to do with love, but everyone still hopes to find it.
The “Eighteen something Surrey-ish” is cruel to lovers who are confined by rigid morals and societal rules. What makes Nicole Gabrione’s characters special is the way they feel about it. The protagonists react to them as we would: smash the patriarchy! Let lovers love and let artists fulfil their creative potential! Most are unafraid to express their frustration as Wilhelmina played by Bella Yow concisely puts it: “This scene sucks ass!”
The play’s language is completely removed from what we would expect to be spoken in the 19th century causing the audience to laugh and applaud during and after every scene. What a relief to watch something like that in the hard time of deadlines and unformed summer plans!
Nicole Gabrione, the postgraduate student who wrote Schemes & Shit, treats her characters with remarkable affection and understanding while giving them something female protagonists are often denied: a sense of humour. She develops the message about women’s agency and absurd societal norms that are so hard to ignore in period plays while making it new and entertaining.
The audience has a special connection with the characters built by fourth-wall-breaking comments by Bella Yow and Finn Bender literally welcomed the audience in and made the play even more playful. Even when they call us out: “We know that’s what you come to see a regency romance for you sick fucks,” it is hard to take it personally, as we keep laughing with them.
Laura Bennie, Maddie Cornetta and Nicole herself play three sisters who are not just looking for love. Pride and Prejudice style, everything they own is at stake with no male heir to their father’s fortune. Their dynamic is hilarious and heartwarming. As an audience member, it is one of the most special moments to realise that not only are you watching incredibly talented people but also that they are having tons of fun!
Every actor in the show does a fantastic job. In fact, their range is literally doubled because almost everyone plays two roles, sometimes switching right on stage. It is hard to imagine how much of a creative challenge it was for the actors themselves as well as the director, Riley Christian, who manages it impeccably. It is painfully hard to prioritise watching one character over another in large group scenes: if the second night of the show was not close to selling out, I would pay to watch the play again just to be able to focus on what I missed.
The team coordinated by stage manager Arden Henley works beautifully: scenes that are otherwise highly complex to navigate are flawless despite their internal (and very much intentional) chaos. Lewis Fitez too does an amazing job using tech to its full potential, with lights and music perfectly complementing the action.
Schemes and Shit is one of my favourite plays ever within and outside student-written works. Among the overwhelmingly serious Mermaids shows, Schemes & Shit stands out with its no less important message punctuated by sneaky giggles, cathartic guffaws and shocked gasps caused by the wittiest one-liners and shocking soap opera worthy reveals.
