Woman In Mind Review by Matt Bell & Becki Scott
- Woman in Mind is a challenging play by Alan Ayckbourn about Susan, who struggles between fantasy and reality following a bump on the head. The different worlds are brilliantly portrayed with the use of lighting and rapid set changes, contrasting the dullness of her everyday life with the bright elegance of her preferred fantasy world. The use of a gauze adds extra depth and allows the director to bring Susan’s two worlds together, yet remain separate. The way the lighting and set changes depending on Susan’s mood and state of mind mean that the audience are seeing the action on stage almost subjectively, and this is very effective. Time and thought have been spent on this production and it shows.
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- Susan is on stage throughout the story; a demanding role but this was not a problem. Her portrayal of this very complex person draws the audience in and that is firmly where they stay. Dr Windsor is at times tentative, caring, patronising and even slightly sleazy, but this all comes across as aspects of a single consistent character. The first part of the play is entirely carried out by Susan and Dr Windsor and it is a testament to these actors’ abilities that this works so successfully.
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- Susan’s husband is Gerald, an uninspiring local priest. Also in the house is the sister-in-law from hell; Muriel. Together with their son Rick, this is a good portrayal of an ordinary family. The fantasy family consist of a caring and supportive husband, a devoted daughter and an upbeat sister. While these are by necessity more shallow characters, they work strongly together and are a believable family unit. Their progression to an ever more sinister state in the second act is clear.
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- In all this is a complex play that has been well realised. Some superb casting and direction augmented by some creative lighting and costume have really brought the story to life and it was a thoroughly enjoyable performance.
- Quote of the Play: >
- "...he made use of her hand." Susan: "I hope he put it back when he'd finished with it."
