One of the top definitions on Urban Dictionary tells us fangirls are 'a rabid breed of human female', another says they're girls who 'are fanatical about a particular person, group or idea'. So, which is it? Rabid or fanatical? And what's the difference anyway?
Well, playwright, screenwriter and composer Yve Blake is dissecting this phenomena in the hopes of giving audiences a clear, concise depiction – and what better medium to convey this than a musical?
The aptly-named 'FANGIRLS', which premiered in 2019, is a story about the danger of underestimating teenage girls, exploring main character Edna's obsession with Harry, the lead singer of boy band True Connection. The show is playing in Sydney as a co-production between Belvoir St Theatre and Queensland Theatre.
Edna (Karis Oka) is online besties with fan-fiction connoisseur Saltypringl.
James Majoos played Saltypringl in the original cast and is returning to do it all over again. James says they're looking forward to playing a teenager once more.
Image © Brett Boardman
“I think what's so fun about the show is just the youth and the energy,” James describes.
“Salty's not just the queer, funny, sassy gay black friend. There are layers of those stereotypes in all the characters but they slowly and very cleverly get peeled away and you really see the heart of all of these characters.”
That may perhaps be one of the main takeaways of the show – its ingenious way of conveying an important message while convincing you you're at a fun party-turned-pop-concert. A message about the way society views girls who idolise figures in pop culture.
“It doesn't make sense to me that we can look at young women and call them insane for being passionate. The show doesn't shy away from that either,” James says. “It's quite raw and it's a bold theatrical piece, it's a party as well. It's got the drama, the comedy, and also it's such a good show for young people but the concept of fangirling is global and over all ages – it's a narrative that's been around since The Beatles.”
For James, this role means more than just stepping into someone's shoes for a few hours a night. They reveal Salty's lasting impact beyond the blocking, choreography and pumping musical numbers: “Every night I would get DMs from lots of young, queer people being like 'thank you so much, I haven't seen me represented on the mainstage like that' or I get messages saying 'Salty helped me realise my sexuality'.”
“I sometimes look around at my colleagues and a lot of us are queer and I think, how did we even make it this far when a lot of us never really got to see ourselves represented truthfully and not in a sh.tty, offensive way?
“Seeing a young, queer brown kid in the audience smiling or having a tear in their eye or coming up to me after the show. . . We get to be that representation for somebody else.”
James says one of the most admirable things about 'FANGIRLS' as a show is its honesty and accessibility. They believe its music and messages will be able to be understood by people from backgrounds and ages aplenty.
The show also features a diverse cast which James is confident could be one of the most diverse in any Australian musical.
“It's very special to be able to tell these stories from all different voices and colours,” they say.
“I think it's a show the world needs right now.”
