Holly Morgan is coming to the Edinburgh Fringe with a mission; to sort out this whole misogyny mess once and for all using the best tools she has, half-remembered theories from university and some of the greatest pop songs of all time. In Holly’s show Madonna or Whore she channels women from history and asks why we put women into categories, and (intriguingly) why does she have a fascist vagina – we didn’t even know vaginas had political leanings! Just pH balances. Editor Kate Stone talked to Holly about her show…
Kate Stone: Tell us about your show Madonna or Whore.
Holly Morgan: Madonna or Whore is a musical comedy about misogyny. Freud came up with the Madonna/Whore Complex, which is the theory that (some) straight men split women into two categories – women they want to mother them and women they want to screw. So I’m looking at women from history who’ve been put into those two boxes by society. Madonna has both written and ripped up the rule book when it comes to female representation so her music provides the perfect soundtrack to make jokes about misogynists.
KS: Are you a big Madonna fan?
HM: Nah. I’m obsessed with her.
KS: What do you think Freud would make of your show?
HM: I think he’d say I need my head examined. And that I wished I had a penis.
KS: This is a Fight in the Dog company production, whose aim is to bridge the gap between comedy and theatre. Why do you think there is a gap between the two?
HM: I think there is a perceived gap between comedy and theatre due in part to intellectual snobbery and also because of how damn expensive it is to go to the theatre these days, especially in major cities. If you charge £50 a ticket, people are going to get the impression that theatre isn’t for everyone and that’s such a shame. Fight in the Dog are doing a brilliant job in reuniting comedy fans disillusioned with theatre and theatregoers who are looking for a fresh option.
KS: Who are your favourite funny women?
HM: Bridget Christie and Jo Brand.
Holly Morgan: Madonna Or Whore is on at Assembly Roxy Downstairs, 19:35, 1th-26th August (not 14th), for tickets and more information click here!
