Scenes with girls

by Miriam Battye

You're only the greatest person ever invented and he's some boy who's probs never had a conversation with a side of the sun before -
but like Let's Be Modest About It

Tosh and Lou. 22 scenes.

Other friends have come, got boyfriends and gone.
So what? Tosh and Lou have each other.
They'll never be like the other girls. They won't sit in a narrative someone else thought up.
This is love. This is enough. This is enough.

Scenes with girls by Miriam Battye premiered at the Royal Court Theatre, London, in January 2020.

Genres: Plays, Theatre

112 pages, Paperback

Published February 6, 2020

Reviews

[Rosie 🌹 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Claudia and I read this play as part of a recent R&D we did 😌 always a sucker for a female friendship story!

I thought some of the lines in this were beautiful (standouts were “Flapjacks of makeup, scents of sandalwood, fucking gender everywhere”, “after all the gunk and expected stuff came out there was this bunch of flowers, sprouting right out of his spinal cord”, “they smelled like citrus like holiday”) but overall the humour felt a bit contrived and like it was all a big in-joke at times. I got that it was satirising the bechdel test by having the girls talk about men & sex for most of it (and then one character calls it out and goes a bit mad) but it still felt like it slipped into clichés. I did really like the overall message tho of valuing your friends more than romantic/sexual partners but the queer undertones between the central female characters were under explored imo and a missed opportunity. I think the playwright is fab tho and she’s a great writer - would be keen to read her other play ‘strategic love play’ as I’ve heard v good things. So many thoughts omg! I luv theatre

[etty☆ · Rating 4 out of 5]

raw and feminine in a refreshing way that’s very satisfying. i liked the way the dialogue flowed between well-crafted characters and the way feminism, sex and female friendships and queerness is explored. particularly the floral imagery at the end that could be seen as sapphic. the simple moments that were added and kind of separate from the play were great to and added more context to the characters which i thoroughly enjoyed. the pay stayed well rooted in its space and the more abstract floral moments didn’t feel disconnected. although the play was vague in some parts it was definitely a fun read.

[milzzzzzz]

Final project play hunting is AGO
drop play recs to me pls I am a gurl on a HUNT rn

[Cecilia Morris · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interested in seeing it performed and how this would translate on the stage

[Jessica Summers · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bought this book straight after seeing the play. Basically makes me remember the play perfectly and adds in a couple of extra bits of understanding.

[Emily Farley · Rating 5 out of 5]

A near-perfect representation of girlhood, platonic, (and romantic?) love. The complexity, ugliness, and co-dependence in female friendships. Where is the line between platonic and romantic love? Which is more important? Boys or friends? What is our place in this world? I feel like this play genuinely changed me as a person. I feel seen and represented by all the characters in different ways.

[Hana White · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant, brilliant BRILLIANT. But why is this boy here and why does Tosh like him???? and I also feel somewhat that Fran has gone on this quite large character journey for herself and deserves maybe something better at the end but also obviously it does make sense.

[Gabriela]

Really really loved this

[Marie]

But isn't it nice that don't you ever feel like it's all sort of in around you and holding you and someone's thought about all of it and it's all right.

[Daniela Montella · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love it. So fresh and original, very interesting. Felt kinda sorry for Fran in the end actually, but it couldn't have ended in any other way

[lo · Rating 3 out of 5]

it was a bit cringe but the relationship felt very millennial and realistic

[Gracie Powell · Rating 3 out of 5]

kind of felt like i was having a stroke while reading this but also so so good. anything to do with girlhood and/ or female friendships i will eat up. Also love the imagery

[Livana · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was different but the dynamics between them were interesting

[Reya Muller · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was exciting in places but a bit of a tricky play to get a sense of through reading.

[Laura Theis · Rating 4 out of 5]

LOVE! This is written with how actual conversations go with girlfriends. Feminist piece that is about friendship, and I adore the lil’ hoopledoodles.

[Angelique · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved watching the play, loved re reading it. Liked how much the actors/director followed the directions. Loved these like actual millennials. Although didn’t like the line about Normal People. It’s hard to put into words why it’s so good - it’s real, pacy, female and profoundly destructive hun.

[lils · Rating 5 out of 5]

my current favourite play. I relate so much to Tosh and see so much of my own female friendships reflected in this masterpiece. hilarious and sad at the same time