October 29, 2007
This symposium of Sylvia Plath’s life and work was held as part of what would have been her 75th birthday celebrations. Being somewhat of a Plath novice, I found the start of the show difficult and a bit of a struggle – opening with an unexplained 5-minute film of honey dripping on a naked woman while bees were buzzing, and then a classically-performed song (The Night Dances performed by Laura Mayhew and Julius Drake) – I must admit I felt rather lost, and had the realisation that presumptions had been made of the audience as there was no gentle introduction about Sylvia Plath the woman, what she stood for and what she was about, which would have allowed an early appreciation of the show.
However, thankfully a short scene by Julian Glover, detailing how Plath received her first marriage proposal, was funny, lighthearted and brought the show to life. From then on, I could appreciate this witty, cynical, deep-thinking, complex young woman and all she stood for. The show had a mixture of dialogue, film, songs, animation and readings – highlights being Three Women (directed by Tamara Harvey) – readings of three significant times of Plath’s life interwoven flawlessly and heartbreakingly by Diana Quick, Lynn Farleigh and Federlay Holmes – the birth of her son, the loss of her daughter, and her subsequent breakdown – followed by a beautifully performed Plath Lullaby by the charismatic Jack Harris – it was the lyrics of the lullaby which made us realise the significance of the bees/honey film which opened the show, as Sylvia’s father was a beekeeper.
The show closed with Tom Hollander reading the poem Red, which Ted Hughes (the love of her life) wrote for Sylvia after she died – a poignant, touching end to the story of this remarkable woman who stood for so much that is still important for women today.
The show was a charity gala for the White Ribbon Alliance – a grass-roots organisation championing women’s sexual rights and healthcare during pregnancy and childbirth in the third world.
However, thankfully a short scene by Julian Glover, detailing how Plath received her first marriage proposal, was funny, lighthearted and brought the show to life. From then on, I could appreciate this witty, cynical, deep-thinking, complex young woman and all she stood for. The show had a mixture of dialogue, film, songs, animation and readings – highlights being Three Women (directed by Tamara Harvey) – readings of three significant times of Plath’s life interwoven flawlessly and heartbreakingly by Diana Quick, Lynn Farleigh and Federlay Holmes – the birth of her son, the loss of her daughter, and her subsequent breakdown – followed by a beautifully performed Plath Lullaby by the charismatic Jack Harris – it was the lyrics of the lullaby which made us realise the significance of the bees/honey film which opened the show, as Sylvia’s father was a beekeeper.
The show closed with Tom Hollander reading the poem Red, which Ted Hughes (the love of her life) wrote for Sylvia after she died – a poignant, touching end to the story of this remarkable woman who stood for so much that is still important for women today.
The show was a charity gala for the White Ribbon Alliance – a grass-roots organisation championing women’s sexual rights and healthcare during pregnancy and childbirth in the third world.