Hull Truck Theatre – until 1st March 2024
Reviewed by Dawn Bennett
5*****
Mary and the Hyenas was presented by Hull Truck Theatre and Pilot Theatre. Written by Maureen Lennon with music by Billy Nomates (aka Tor Maries) and lyrics by Maureen Lennon and Billy Nomates (aka Tor Maries).
With a byline of “Six microphones and one electrifying musical score” they weren’t wrong the music just added to this fabulous story.
Mary Wollstonecraft (Laura Elsworthy) was raised in Beverley near Hull. We join her story just as she has given birth to her second daughter, Mary, (Ainy Medina) who becomes the renowned author Mary Shelley in later life, complications arise and she only has 10 days with her daughter before she dies at the age of 38. We see the story of how Mary Wollstonecraft became the acclaimed author of A Vindication of the Rights of Woman, how she was involved in the French Revolution, set up her own school, and how her life unfolded in the 18th century.
The cast of this production were excellent, Laura Elsworthy was a magnificent lead as Mary Wollstonecraft, she held the story together seamlessly. Laura was the only actor not to play numerous parts. Kate Hampson, Ainy Medina, Elexi Walker, Beth Cram and Kat Johns-Burke switched effortlessly between the different characters they played from wearing different costumes, a jacket here a hat there, and changing how they stood and spoke was very clever. Also, their costumes, which were brilliantly designed, and the simple but effective set (both designed by Sara Perks) added to the effectiveness of the production.
You would think that musical drama about this subject would be dark and dreary but that couldn’t be further from the truth. It was informative, funny and very entertaining and the music was up to date and fitted well with the story.
Mary Wollstonecraft only became well known after her untimely death her views of the treatment of women and women’s rights, or lack of, were views that were not agreed with in the 18th century by men and also some other women. I think that at lot of young people could benefit from watching this production as it would give them an awareness and an insight into some of the problems women encountered in history. By doing this in such an interesting and entertaining way, I feel, that it would keep their attention right to the end.
Mary and the Hyenas is at Hull Truck Theatre until 1st March. If you don’t catch it in Hull, which I really recommend you try to, you’ll be able to see it in London at Wilton’s Music Hall from 18th until 29th March when it transfers there.
A five-star production from a five-star cast.