More than skin deep, Losing Face sets out to satirise the booming cosmetic enhancement industry and the relentless pressure on women to defy the ageing process. Marieke Hardy’s new comedy begins with an intriguing premise, but despite flashes of sharp wit and a committed cast, the production ultimately struggles to maintain its focus, descending into increasingly absurd territory that dilutes its central ideas.
Travel writer Jo (Michala Banas) is approaching her fiftieth birthday and treats her lifelong friends Simone (Madeleine Sami) and Lauren (Christie Whelan Browne) to a luxury wellness retreat at the exclusive Royal You resort.
Expecting restorative massages, saunas and overdue conversation, the trio instead find themselves immersed in an upmarket medi-spa where cosmetic procedures are relentlessly marketed as essential self-improvement. When an experimental treatment goes spectacularly wrong, the women’s weekend takes an increasingly bizarre turn, with consequences that are as surreal as they are improbable.
The opening scenes establish an entertaining blend of friendship comedy and social satire, hinting at a thoughtful exploration of society’s obsession with youth and beauty. Hardy clearly has plenty to say about the impossible expectations placed upon women as they age, and there are moments where these observations land with genuine insight. Unfortunately, as the story progresses, the production abandons much of that potential in favour of increasingly outlandish situations, slapstick humour and cheap visual gags.
The result feels less like a considered satire and more like an extended sketch, somewhere between Weekend at Bernie’s and The First Wives Club. Hardy throws obstacle after obstacle at her characters in the hope that something will stick, but the escalating absurdity comes at the expense of emotional investment.
The narrative becomes increasingly confusing, with both the writing and the resort setting losing clarity as the play races towards its chaotic conclusion. What could have been a biting commentary on ageing, vanity and female friendship instead settles for broad comedy that rarely earns its biggest laughs.
Under Leticia Cáceres’ direction, however, the cast works well to elevate the material. Michala Banas brings warmth and vulnerability to Jo, while Madeleine Sami offers an understated, grounded performance that provides welcome balance amidst the chaos. Christie Whelan Browne embraces the production’s heightened tone with characteristic comic energy, and Wil King is suitably enigmatic as the resort’s charismatic Tomas.
The standout performance belongs to Genevieve Morris, who steals almost every scene in her dual roles as the overly enthusiastic resort nurse and an intensely competitive fellow guest. Morris possesses impeccable comic timing and a fearless physicality, delivering the evening’s most consistently entertaining moments.
The production values are among the show’s strongest assets. Jo Briscoe’s sleek wellness retreat is beautifully realised, instantly transporting audiences into a world of polished luxury where appearances are everything. Amelia Lever-Davidson’s lighting design complements the pristine aesthetic with crisp precision, while Kelly Ryall’s sound design, punctuated by an energetic playlist of party bangers, keeps the production moving at an energetic pace.
Losing Face is an ambitious comedy with an undeniably timely premise and a talented ensemble determined to make it work. While the performances and technical elements provide plenty to admire, the script’s increasingly erratic storytelling prevents its more meaningful ideas from fully emerging, leaving behind an entertaining but uneven satire.
Losing Face
Southbank Theatre, The Sumner, Southbank Boulevard, Southbank
Performance: Friday 26 June 2026
Season continues to 25 July 2026
Information and Bookings: www.mtc.com.au
Images: Wil King, Christie Whelan Browne, Michala Banas, Genevieve Morris and Madeleine Sami – photo by Pia Johnson | Michala Banas, Madeleine Sami and Christie Whelan Browne – photo by Pia Johnson | Wil King, Genevieve Morris, Christie Whelan Browne, Michala Banas and Madeleine Sami – photo by Pia Johnson | Madeleine Sami and Genevieve Morris – photo by Pia Johnson
Review: Rohan Shearn