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The Mistress & A Solitary Choice |
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Written by Stephanie Johnson
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Monday, 14 July 2008 |
 Left - The Mistress. Cover -
A Solitary Choice
Holden Street Theatres has once again provided Adelaide with
some of its finest drama, serving up rich and rewarding professional
theatre in its latest Director’s Choice Season.
The 2008 theatrical menu offers two one-hour plays that explore the deepest feelings and thoughts of two very different women.
First on the theatrical bill of fare is Martha Lott, directed by Phillip Parslow, in the Australian premiere of The Mistress, a play that has already won acclaim in Edinburgh.
Arnold Wesker’s script is complicated and demanding as a single
woman faces her inner turmoil over her love affair with a man, the
husband of one of her closest friends. Lott is technically brilliant as she portrays the fashion designer Samantha’s
mental and emotional gymnastics in alternately facing and avoiding her
betrayal of her friend. Conscience wars with desire as the mistress
struggles to come to terms with her duplicity.
As the play progresses Lott’s character splits into four voices in her head, represented by three fashion dummies as well as her own personality. Lott
magnificently weaves her way in and out of each character, morphing in
and out with professional ease. This is powerful theatre and yet, it is
difficult to find an emotional connection with Wesker’s self-obsessed Samantha. Lott does her best to portray the vulnerability but the narcissism somehow repels and the result is a fine appreciation of Lott’s skills rather than an emotional connection with the character.
This is in stark contrast to Sheila Duncan’s play A Solitary Choice,
the second offering of the night. This is spellbinding theatre that
engages from the start and delivers a gripping and satisfying banquet.
Tamara Lee is astounding as the unhappily married Ruth, who has reached a crossroads in her life. Lee
powerfully portrays her character’s transition, from the moment the
first seed of dissatisfaction for her current life sets in through to
the ultimate conclusion. Hers is an emotionally harrowing ride, and yet
recognisable for anyone who has reached such a cross roads in their
life.
This is a tour de force performance by Lee as layer by layer she strips away the veneer of the seemingly straight-laced, suit-clad Ruth and
bares the soul of a full-bodied and sumptuous woman. Herein lies the
choice, and herein lies the dilemma. Having awoken the wild girl-woman
within, which way does she turn? Lee portrays every nuance, every emotion, every doubt and all of the turmoil involved in such a choice. She is ably supported by Michael Allen’s direction, and Andrew Kay’s lighting is inspired as different angles and colours enhance different facial aspects and draw forth different aspects of Ruth’s personality. It is no wonder that the audience exploded with rapturous applause as this one-woman play came to a close.
Holden Street Directors Choice 2008
A Solitary Choice
by Sheila Duncan
&
The Mistress
by Arnold Wesker
Venue: The Studio | Holden Street Theatres
Opening Night: 12th July
Season: Wednesday to Saturday, July 16 - 19 and 23 - 26 @ 7.30 p.m
Tickets: $21.50 - $31.50
Bookings: VenueTix 8225 8888
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