Woman in Mind: Ayckbourn to 29th October 2005
Woman in Mind by Alan Ayckbourn
Salisbury Playhouse, 7th – 29th October 2005
Mons - Weds; 7.30 pm; Thur – Sat; 8.00 p.m.
Runs 2 hours 12 minutes: One Interval
Tickets 01722 320333: http://www.salisburyplayhouse.com
Review Mark Courtice: 29th October 2005
Multiple levels of reality cleverly exposed
Salisbury Playhouse has a long history of presenting Ayckbourn (come to think if it which rep hasn't?) and this latest is one of the master's least jolly, but the most interesting.
Concussed Susan hovers between two worlds - that of her dreams; perfect, pink and white daughter and husband, champagne at 11 a.m. - and that of reality; a greeny- brown cord clad bore of a parson husband, and a son who casually destroys any hope that motherhood might be rewarding.
As usual there is great writing for a woman, and multiple layers of reality cleverly exposed.
This production gets all that right; Raz Shaw's direction is well served by a good set and a central performance of real quality. Other elements are less illuminating including some odd performances of stock "comic" acting, and a thumping lack of subtlety jarring with the tenderness and doubt of the better ones.
Philip Witcomb's clever set powerfully suggests Susan's delaminating world. There is a glistening fantasy pergola, sometimes like a mirror sometimes like a glass wall, through which Susan's dream world characters appear. The workaday suburban garden is all right angles and regimented bedding plants, with a green lawn at the centre, and a curving sky that darkens and glowers overlooking it.
Sarah Woodward gets Susan just right. Her performance has depth, subtlety and consistency. She is both genuine and genuinely moving. Matching this is Will Barton's Bill, the doctor who both says lovely things to Susan and coolly betrays her at the last. Again the touch is clear and well judged. It’s a shame that he attaches an unnecessary comedy character laugh to all this. This strange aberration seemed more of a piece with some of the other performances which were coarse to an uncomfortable degree.
Woman in Mind is more than a comedy and more than a psychological exploration of breakdown; the trick is to walk that narrow line. Raz Shaw and team so nearly got there, it’s a shame that they didn't have the nerve to cut the crude gagging and let the play do its stuff.
Susan Sarah Woodward
Bill Will Barton
Andy Julian Protheroe
Lucy Jemma Powell
Tony Theo Fraser Steel
Gerald Jamie Newall
Muriel Anna Kirke
Rick Alex Robertson
Director Raz Shaw
Designer Philip Witcomb
Lighting David Holmes
Sound Kevin Scott
2005-11-01 14:08:40