Er. 'Waiting for Rowling'? Breaking this pride butterfly on a wheel is hardly worth the small frisson of pleasure afforded. What a croc of wasted luvvie space. It isn’t about J.K. Rowling. It sidesteps her arguments, ignores the substance of women’s rights vs. gender identity, reduces JKR to a vague “harmful views” figure. It’s entirely about Laura Kay Bailey - her excitement at landing a role in an earlier second rate play, the backlash, the chaos, and her own conflicted feelings as a 'cis ally' playing Rowling. It’s classic actor navel-gazing; less “what’s true?”, more “how did this make me feel?” The widely criticised sub-second rate, original play becomes fodder for Bailey’s self-reflection, while Rowling - and the issues she raised about single-sex spaces, sport, safeguarding, and free speech - are pushed to the thinnest margins. This is a small, self-focused one-woman show about a fleeting brush with controversy, dressed up as something bigger. Critics call it engaging and witty. At its core it’s still: “I played the villain, and it got complicated. Poor me."
Hah! Ah well, it's proof that we don't have to agree on everything to be in broad agreement. And I don't actually agree with everything she says about trans people. I'm happy for people who genuinely want to live as the opposite sex to do so if it makes them happier. No skin off my nose.
What I object to are chancers, con men, narcissists and stirrers taking on the role for attention, advantage or financial benefit. I see that as another attack on (mostly) women. Hope that doesn't get me chucked out of here lol.
Edited to add: if ADULTS want to. I abhor the whole using your kids for value signalling thing.
All the hate against JK Rowling is so appalling imho. That woman has done more for the world than 100 poorly prepared narcissist actors riding on the back of someone else's success.
She got millions of kids to read when reading was out of fashion, and still does.
When her success was phenomenal and the series was finished, she put out The Casual Vacancy, a searing indictment of poverty and broken welfare system in a small English town. It sold millions at first and people, including me, were attacked by the horrible lives of these characters. They were drawn from her own experience. I admire her SO MUCH for taking the opportunity she had to get through to people. It wasn't a puff piece, it wasn't a fun murder mystery, it was an exposé of English inequality and institutionalised cruelty.
Now there's a whole industry based on hanging shit on her. It's not right.
I appreciate your insight - I need to read that again. I did feel the cruelty of her earliest novels in the series, and it almost turned me off of continuing to read them. But I'm glad I've stuck around; her latest gave me hope that some injustice from an earlier book may yet be punished, and I enjoyed the romantic tension very much. The next one will also be a banger, I'm sure.
I'm not surprised she didn't quote what JKR has said. I've challenged in many gender woo people to show me exactly where JKR attacked or criticised the trans community and they can never produce anything. Saying that women and girls deserve to have single sex spaces not attacking trans people. It's only attacking the type of predators who want to go and watch women and girls undress. It's being anti predator, not anti trans. Many trans identifying men stick to men's spaces because they understand women's fears. Only predators breach women's boundaries.
This 'actress' is clearly on the side of the predators.
What a talentless, hideous and pathetic pice of ignorant nonsense from this woman-hating hand maiden. What a treacherous stunt to say it all started during menopause. This woman would rather stick up for the fetishises of men than other women. Shame on her. I don't know how you sat through it but your review and logical countering of each part are brilliant. Typical drivel, devoid of any logic or thought, yet again from the deranged art world. It's so tiresome that they are still at it.
Always hateful, spewing insults ,while needing to be protected with "Visitor code of conduct towards lgbtq,' in a "friendly inclusive space" safe from "derogatory comments,slurs..."
I saw the TERF CUNT premiere and considered reviewing it but I decided against it as it was such review bait and the director didn't deserve the attention he craved. It was just... really bad. I did laugh at a transvestite rolling around the floor in one of the bizarre melodramatic inserts of his moping around but generally it was just tedious. This play just sounds like part two of the same dire attention seeking that ends up desperate and dreary.
Er. 'Waiting for Rowling'? Breaking this pride butterfly on a wheel is hardly worth the small frisson of pleasure afforded. What a croc of wasted luvvie space. It isn’t about J.K. Rowling. It sidesteps her arguments, ignores the substance of women’s rights vs. gender identity, reduces JKR to a vague “harmful views” figure. It’s entirely about Laura Kay Bailey - her excitement at landing a role in an earlier second rate play, the backlash, the chaos, and her own conflicted feelings as a 'cis ally' playing Rowling. It’s classic actor navel-gazing; less “what’s true?”, more “how did this make me feel?” The widely criticised sub-second rate, original play becomes fodder for Bailey’s self-reflection, while Rowling - and the issues she raised about single-sex spaces, sport, safeguarding, and free speech - are pushed to the thinnest margins. This is a small, self-focused one-woman show about a fleeting brush with controversy, dressed up as something bigger. Critics call it engaging and witty. At its core it’s still: “I played the villain, and it got complicated. Poor me."
It's no surprise they won't quote Rowling, as her words are powerful and true (other than what she has to say about hoodies).
What does she say about hoodies?
I shall quote her directly! Which I haven't seen her detractors do:
https://x.com/jk_rowling/status/2037834169565200758
I fear this might be my most controversial take ever, but I agreed to put it to a vote so here we are.
Hoodies should only be worn by men young enough not to look silly carrying a skateboard.
Hah! Ah well, it's proof that we don't have to agree on everything to be in broad agreement. And I don't actually agree with everything she says about trans people. I'm happy for people who genuinely want to live as the opposite sex to do so if it makes them happier. No skin off my nose.
What I object to are chancers, con men, narcissists and stirrers taking on the role for attention, advantage or financial benefit. I see that as another attack on (mostly) women. Hope that doesn't get me chucked out of here lol.
Edited to add: if ADULTS want to. I abhor the whole using your kids for value signalling thing.
How vile this all is, Mr. Linehan. How good you are to keep up the good fight. It is quite discouraging to read about and yet you carry on. Thank you.
All the hate against JK Rowling is so appalling imho. That woman has done more for the world than 100 poorly prepared narcissist actors riding on the back of someone else's success.
She got millions of kids to read when reading was out of fashion, and still does.
When her success was phenomenal and the series was finished, she put out The Casual Vacancy, a searing indictment of poverty and broken welfare system in a small English town. It sold millions at first and people, including me, were attacked by the horrible lives of these characters. They were drawn from her own experience. I admire her SO MUCH for taking the opportunity she had to get through to people. It wasn't a puff piece, it wasn't a fun murder mystery, it was an exposé of English inequality and institutionalised cruelty.
Now there's a whole industry based on hanging shit on her. It's not right.
I appreciate your insight - I need to read that again. I did feel the cruelty of her earliest novels in the series, and it almost turned me off of continuing to read them. But I'm glad I've stuck around; her latest gave me hope that some injustice from an earlier book may yet be punished, and I enjoyed the romantic tension very much. The next one will also be a banger, I'm sure.
I'm not surprised she didn't quote what JKR has said. I've challenged in many gender woo people to show me exactly where JKR attacked or criticised the trans community and they can never produce anything. Saying that women and girls deserve to have single sex spaces not attacking trans people. It's only attacking the type of predators who want to go and watch women and girls undress. It's being anti predator, not anti trans. Many trans identifying men stick to men's spaces because they understand women's fears. Only predators breach women's boundaries.
This 'actress' is clearly on the side of the predators.
What a talentless, hideous and pathetic pice of ignorant nonsense from this woman-hating hand maiden. What a treacherous stunt to say it all started during menopause. This woman would rather stick up for the fetishises of men than other women. Shame on her. I don't know how you sat through it but your review and logical countering of each part are brilliant. Typical drivel, devoid of any logic or thought, yet again from the deranged art world. It's so tiresome that they are still at it.
Thanks for taking one for the team, Zoe. That would not have been a fun night out. At least Ms. Bailey pronounces "Rowling" correctly...
Ikr. She's done JK a solid by using the correct pronunciation. Made me laugh.
Great review, really well written. I felt like I was suffering thru this with you.
Bailey missed a trick not performing it in the loo with that guy crapping next to her, standing ovation for washing his hands
Always hateful, spewing insults ,while needing to be protected with "Visitor code of conduct towards lgbtq,' in a "friendly inclusive space" safe from "derogatory comments,slurs..."
Pathetic.
I saw the TERF CUNT premiere and considered reviewing it but I decided against it as it was such review bait and the director didn't deserve the attention he craved. It was just... really bad. I did laugh at a transvestite rolling around the floor in one of the bizarre melodramatic inserts of his moping around but generally it was just tedious. This play just sounds like part two of the same dire attention seeking that ends up desperate and dreary.
The bit I laughed at was meant to be serious but it was so absurd I couldn't restrain myself in the dramatic silence.
Bravo Zoe. Thanks for taking one for the team.
Thanks, Zoe
You took one for the team there sitting through this!!
It sounds to me like 'no debate' on stage
Have cross posted
https://dustymasterson.substack.com/p/the-hunt-for-red-october
Dusty