Audrey makes it’s world debut at SXSW. This black comedy, directed by Natalie Bailey is her feature debut and she knocks it out of the park. Audrey is about a self-appointed Mother of the Year, Ronnie has given her daughter Audrey everything, so when Audrey selfishly falls into a coma, Ronnie has no choice but to keep their dreams alive by assuming her identity. IT’s dark and laugh out loud fun that had the entire theater in tears.
The cast of Audrey is absolutely brilliant. Ronnie and Cormack Lipsick played by Jackie van Beek and Jeremy Lindsay Taylor are incredible as the parents to the insufferable Audrey played brilliantly by Josephine Blazier. They walk the line of terrible people that you just can’t help but root for. They are miserable and for good reason. Audrey is so unlikeable you can’t help but cheer when she “selfishly falls into a coma.” Mom Ronnie, a washed up actress of a time long forgotten wants nothing more than for her daughter to be a star herself. When Audrey tragically falls into a come there is only one thing left to do, assume her teenage daughter’s identity and become an actor again. Cormack is a shell of himself. Looking for excitement and love outside of home and when he finds a grief counseling group and falls for the leader, things start to unfold rather unconventionally.
The absolute star of the show is Norah Lipsick as Hannah and Audrey’s wheelchair bound sister. She is always being overlooked for the sake of Audrey’s needs and when Audrey falls into a coma it’s her time to shine. Hannah’s deadpan delivery is so good you just keep wanting more. The family starts out in shambles not sure what to do without their tyrant running and ruining their lives. Quickly they realize how great life is without Audrey in it and they start to flourish. The family start to reconnect and life seems great. Ronnie and Cormack get their sex life back full of crazy and interesting sex toys and Hannah gets to all of the things she wanted to do that never seemed to matter when Audrey was around. Everything is going great until Audrey has the nerve to wake up from her coma.
This dark comedy and it is dark, is a telling commentary on a narcissistic culture that begs the attention of others and gets a life source from complete strangers. When one person believes their life would be better without being tied down to obligations it shows that some people will stop at nothing to get the life they want and think they deserve. Audrey is dark, hilarious, cringeworthy yet heartfelt entertainment that will have you questioning your own morals as you cheer for the not-so-great guys that are still some how but humans then the insufferable victim, Audrey.
