|
You wouldn’t think that a suicidal housewife would make for a particularly entertaining evening, however, in the case of Edward Anthony’s play, Wish I had a Sylvia Plath, it really did. From the first moments of the performance, when she pulls her head out of the gas oven and begins to converse with it (the oven is called Olsen, we soon learn), until the timer goes and her ‘black tar brain soufflé’ is done, Elisabeth Gray is hilarious, tragic and exceptionally entertaining as housewife Esther Greenwood. In addition to Esther’s monologue, she, her husband, his lover, her mother and father and her children make appearances in an exaggerated and elegant black and white film projected on to the set’s kitchen window. For these segments, Gray provides all of their voices with dramatic effect, bouncing around the recesses of Esther’s memory and breakdown. Esther also features in The Better Tome and Garden Show, (brought on by the third stage hypopoxia, intense hallucinations) where with the support of the Olsen the oven, she leads the audience in preparing 51 liar lasagne (including a Babylonian whore), black tar brain soufflé and a perfect life. Anthony’s play is based on a fusion of Sylvia Plath’s novel The Bell Jar and Plath’s life (the former being largely autobiographical anyway), and features recognisable characters such as Ned Pughes as Esther’s philandering husband (Ted Hughes was Plath’s real-life husband). Intensely dark and more than a bit manic, Wish I had a Sylvia Plath is also highly satirical (and sometimes downright hilarious). It’s an hour of superb entertainment, though the tragedy of it all may linger long after the house lights have dimmed. Kate Bottriell (Unverified), 01/04/08 Fresh from its award-winning run at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Wish I Had a Sylvia Plath is a great piece of studio theatre. Taking its inspiration from the sad demise of the iconic writer Sylvia Plath, it is the story of Esther, a poet and housewife who is struggling to meet the demands of these two potentially opposing careers. It takes place in the last minutes of her life as she enters a dream world (induced by the gas from the oven in which she has stuck her head) where she recalls the events of her life – some of which are responsible for her depression and suicide. Yet this play is not depressing, it is very moving certainly, but it is so full of jokes and wit that it makes you laugh out loud and it is therefore all the more poignant when the tragedy unfolds. Stunningly performed by Elisabeth Gray, who crackles with energy and intelligence, there are plenty of surprises in this play. An excellent script by Edward Anthony is complemented by John Farmanesh-Bocca’s taut and powerful direction. The set is inspired, a work of complete delight by Luke Haynes, which is made from a giant quilt with a whole kitchen and working TV screen combined within its design. Wish I Had a Sylvia Plath is fringe theatre at its best. The Michael Pilch Theatre is a small but perfectly formed space located on Jowett Walk - that’s between Mansfield Rd and St Cross Rd. It’s on until 27th October at 8pm (Thursday and Saturday matinees at 2.30pm). Take the opportunity to see this gem of a show while it’s in Oxford - it’s an hour you will definitely regard as well spent. Angie Johnson (Unverified), 18/10/07 |
Latest Theatre reviewsThe Hothouse: University of Oxford Student Company Illyria Productions performed a hilarious, laugh...read more Thirsty: This is difficult. Because, as a company, Paper Birds are so likeable. The performances...read more The Curse of the Oxford Revue: The Curse of the Oxford Revue is the story of a small town, Blight-upon-Cripple,...read more Mixed Doubles: Oxford Actors Network presented an evening of a trio of new plays: Roman Fever, Crossing...read more Michael Pennington's Sweet William: If it takes ten thousand hours of practice to make a virtuoso then I’m not sure what...read more Review of the DayValentine's Day 2012: To my lovely Snookums, Thanks for always making me laugh! Love ya!...read more Ads by Daily Info:  Browse ads by tag: Please fill in the boxes and then click "Send Review" to submit your review for Wish I Had a Sylvia Plath. |
