Hmmmmm……the OTHER side of 25….not the good side some would say….and pregnant! Meet Amory. She vowed to never have children. So how did this happen? It’s not your average story. Acclaimed stand-up comedian, Becca Hurd, is bringing her hysterical and heartfelt play to the Adelaide Fringe.
SAT: Welcome Becca! Is this your first Adelaide Fringe?
BH: Thank you, hello! I attended last year’s Adelaide Fringe as a viewer/ student but this is my first time participating in ADL Fringe!
SAT: You’re originally from the USA and have just completed a writing course at NIDA in Sydney. What did you learn there and how did that influence your writing of ‘The Other Side of 25?’
BH: Correct, I just spent the last year getting my MFA in Writing for Performance from NIDA. Our instructor, Stephen Sewell, teaches us to write from the unconscious, without reading over or editing our work as we go. The end product of that that is your inspiration and jumping off point to mold a story. I think I had a lot of pent-up anxiety and word-vomit about my impending 25th birthday, and that became a springboard for the script. Though The Other Side of 25 is a story about a surrogate mother, it’s also a story about growing up and the fears and anxieties that come with crossing the threshold of turning 25. Because that’s where I am in my life right now, a lot of it came to the page quite easily.
SAT: The central character, Amory, has vowed never to have children. Why is that and what is she like?
BH: Amory’s the friend you love but whom you constantly worry about. You wouldn’t trust her with many things. In fact, you likely wouldn’t want her to have kids. There’s a big monologue in the show where Amory backs up her reasons behind not wanting to have kids, and though it’s convoluted with many jokes and obscenities, her reasoning does have some sense to it. You might even be onside with her. And then, suddenly, she’s thrust into this situation where she’s pregnant with her sister’s child and her whole world gets turned upside down.
SAT: Amory likes to write funny songs. Is that a back story of the character or will we hear some of these songs as part of this show?
BH: You will hear the songs! Music is a big part of the show. Our Music Composer, Sally Alrich-Smythe and I worked really hard to write (and learn to play) the songs woven throughout the show. The songs have turned out to be quite crucial to Amory’s character development. I wrote this story for an actor who could play guitar, and I could not. So I’ve spent the last 3 months scrambling to teach myself how to play!
SAT: The storyline has me weeping for her situation. Could you tell us more about the situation she finds herself in?
BH: Well, there are definitely parts of the show I’d love to leave a bit ambiguous – all the more exciting for an audience who comes in not knowing much about the show! But essentially – you’ve got yourself an abrasive character who vows she’ll never have kids. Then, she suddenly finds herself in a situation in which she must prepare to become a mother. Against her will.
SAT: You premiered this show in Sydney. What was the audience reaction?
BH: We had such an amazing reception to the show in Sydney, I have been absolutely blown away. I had a feeling this show would appeal to an audience of 20-30 year olds, but I’ve also had women in their 60s coming up to me and telling me how relatable the material is. This is my first writing that’s been put on so to get such positive feedback feels really good! The reviews have been stellar and we almost sold out, if not sold out, every show in Sydney. I’ve got a big smile on my face and I am so, so excited to share the show with a Fringe audience so that our team can continue to learn from and develop this material.
SAT: The show is almost entirely made up of female-identifying artists. Why is that important to you?
BH: My main interest as a writer is to create female-driven stories and The Other Side of 25, a story about a woman becoming pregnant with her sister’s baby, is such a female centric story. I knew that I wanted talented and creative women to help me to the story. There’s enough men trying to tell our stories as it is. Our team is amazing – all of our designers, stage managers, myself and the director are all female-identifying creatives who felt this was an important story to share with audiences around Australia. It felt like the only way to properly tell this story.
SAT: Could you explain more about the expectations of young women in today’s society and how that is interwoven into your show?
BH: In the show, Amory rants a lot about “society’s expectations of women” and how getting married and having kids is supposed to equal happiness. And she challenges that. She doubts that. She fights that. One of my favorite lines in the show is when Amory speaks of a pregnancy scare she once had, and how excited her sister was for her. “I don’t have to want this,” Amory says. But all of this gets challenged as the show progresses, and I think that is where it gets really interesting to talk to audiences.
SAT: Is there a message you’d like the audience to take away?
BH: I rather just talk to them at the end of the show and see what they each took away from it individually!
SAT: You are performing at the A Club Adelaide. What appeals to you about this venue and how are you finding working with the team there?
BH: Kerry Marsh is amazing, I’ve never seen a person work harder for success across the board for their artists. He wants us all to succeed and is so invested in our shows. If I have a question, Kerry will get back to me right away. The A Club has some amazing shows lined up and I am so excited to be a part of that community. I can’t wait to see and support everyone and their shows! It feels special.
SAT: What does the rest of the year have in store for Becca Hurd?
BH: After Adelaide, we’re bringing the Other Side of 25 to Melbourne in March! We’ll be at the Butterfly Club March 20-23rd. And in April I’ll be moving back to Chicago, IL and hopefully bringing the show along with me!
Photos featured in this interview, by Jasmin Simmons.
Venue: The Loft at “A Club” Adelaide
Season: 21 – 24 February
Times: 7:40pm and 2:00pm on Saturday and Sunday
Duration: 50 minutes (no interval)
Price: $12 – $20 with special offers for Fringe Members and Concession
Purchase tickets here: https://adelaidefringe.com.au/fringetix/the-other-side-of-25-af2019?venue=166%3A864
http://www.rebeccahurd.com/
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