BY SASCHA KELLY
Moneypenny is not my idea.
It’s been an amalgamation of several concepts that friends of mine have suggested. Justina Lui was one of those people, and she had the idea of creating a show of James Bond themes for strings. A bit of tweaking, and now Moneypenny is here.
In a way, that’s the most exciting part about creating something new; that what you originally planned is not what makes it to the stage. The basic premise, however, is that our audiences gets to spend a bit of time with Moneypenny while she takes you through her day. Just what is the reality of working for a spy? How do you do the accounts when your boss has ruined another priceless Aston Martin? How do you tell the cleaners to get rid of a dead body in the bathroom?
Moneypenny has evolved over the years in the same way that Bond has. The banter that plays out between Sean Connery and Lois Maxwell would be so out of place in a modern film. Nowadays, Naomie Harris’ version in the films is a rested field-agent, so she’s no shrinking violet, but behind a desk isn’t really where she wants to be long term. Samantha Bond is my favourite – her Moneypenny goes on dates, works hard, and looks good. She flirts with Pierce, but she doesn’t get too carried away. She hasn’t been banished, or redirected from any other field (to my knowledge) and she does a really good job. My Moneypenny is a combination of all the versions, and a reflection of my personal experience – I’ve worked on a reception desk on and off for almost four years, I like working with other high achievers, and I take a lot of pride in doing my job well. They are qualities that I think Moneypenny also shares. So, when building a character, why not start with our greatest similarities? This is the building block of my Moneypenny.
Rehearsals have begun, so I’m sure the show on 20 September will look different to the one I just performed in my living room to my brother and my housemate a few hours ago. In fact, I think the show I’ll perform on 25 September will be different to the one I perform on opening night. I have an outstanding bunch of fellow music-makers – Angel Duan, Justina Lui, Matt Bell, Belinda Liew, Ian Crossfield, Callum Moncrieff, and Julia Hastings (who is performing her own show later in Fringe!).
Why we should praise Moneypenny as the ultimate Bond woman?
1. Moneypenny knows longevity
A Telegraph article said analysts of film scripts show that a third of the women who succumb to the average 007 charms were killed – many of them in outlandish or gruesome ways. Not Moneypenny – she’s still going strong after 22 movies.
2. Moneypenny is doing it for herself
While many other Bond women end up in sticky situations, needing Bond to rescue them (and he’s not the most reliable at that), Moneypenny is getting stuff done. She hold the rank of Lieutenant RN, she’s cleared for Top Secret, Eyes Only and Cabinet level intelligence reports – she’s indispensable in her role.
3. Moneypenny gets sweet perks
Imagine getting to go to work everyday with Q. In Die Another Day, Moneypenny got a good look at the simulator, even though she was rudely interrupted. Wouldn’t you have done the same? I’m sure that’s not the only toy Q has let her have a look at.
4. Moneypenny gets the guy, without the hassle
A bit of harmless banter never hurt anyone, and Moneypenny is probably the only woman who is constantly welcomed in James’ life. He is suave, smooth and handsome, but I’m not sure James would be the best boyfriend. Also think of the eye candy she’s had the joy of working with – Pierce, Daniel and Sean. And with the likes of Idris Elba or Tom Hiddleston next in line, the standard isn’t dropping any time soon.
5. Moneypenny knows how to get violent – she just doesn’t act on it
We learned recently that Moneypenny started life as a field agent, and then retired to deskwork after (accidentally) shooting Bond. Whoops. That didn’t stop her getting back amongst it when M was attacked inside the government, but for most of the time, Moneypenny is using her brain, not her trigger finger.
6. Moneypenny would be the best gal pal ever
She works for the secret service. She can literally get people killed. She’d always have your back when you needed a good bitching session that you can’t let anyone know about.
See Sascha Kelly present Moneypenny at the Melbourne Fringe Festival. The Basement, Hawthorn Arts Centre, 20-25 September. Tickets and more info hawthornartscentre.com.au.
Images supplied.
