In a rare twist of fate, two Americans have made something about England which isn’t an obnoxious stereotype. What a triumph, writes Carter Smith.
The Oscar-nominated short Jane Austen’s Period Drama is both a satire and play on words: it’s a period drama about a woman’s period. Creators Julia Aks and Steve Pinder clearly love a pun, because this short is rife with them.
Set in Regency England, it follows Estrogenia Talbot (Aks) and her lover, the dashing Mr James Dickley (Ta’imua), who mistakes her period for a wound, just as he’s about to propose, no less. How’s that for timing? He rushes into her house, begging for help, then runs off to find a doctor to tend to her nonexistent injury. Estrogenia explains to her two sisters, Labinia Talbot (Samantha Smart) and Vagianna Talbot (Nicole Alyse Nelson) and her dad, Mr Father Talbot (Hugo Armstrong), that she is okay, she is just on her period.
Yes, that is actually their names. See? They love a pun. Though they are the kind of names a group of 12-year-olds might come up with in the playground after a sex-ed lesson, I couldn’t help but chuckle every time one is said aloud. I’m not sure whether that says more about them or me, but I enjoyed it either way.
What ensues is a wacky back-and-forth as Estrogenia and Labinia discuss how to deal with Dickley. To tell him about her period? Or not? That is the question, and it is answered in progressively amusing ways thanks to some great, witty writing and fast-paced drama.
She does tell him. Dickley is confused. Then uncomfortable. Then he is confused some more. Sprinkle on a little more misunderstanding. Finally, he is distressed at the notion that women have to deal with such things. You know, classic male behaviour. He is definitely the first generation of a long line of performative males who use empathising with a period as a chat-up line.
Even though it is primarily played for laughs, it does a good job of parading male discomfort at discussing menstruation. Who knew a short with characters called Mrs Bitts (Marilyn Brett) and Dr Bangley (Dustin Ingram) could contain a sincere message?
Jane Austen’s Period Drama knows exactly what it wants to be and succeeds in getting there. And at the end, we can all reflect on how stupid it is that men still can’t handle the mention of a period, more than 200 years on.
