Drayton Arms – until 15 June 2019
Reviewed by Heather Chalkley
3***
Sarah Wanendeya has successfully extracted the essence of women facing middle age, bringing a roller coaster of emotions that go with it.
Overcome by the stresses and responsibilities of being wife and mother, The Woman (Wanendeya) has lost her sense of identity, creating a feeling of invisibleness. We are taken on a hilarious journey through her youth and explorations of a society fixated on retaining their youth.
The chorus of 4 women at various stages of middle agedness are our guides, provoking, questioning The Woman (Wanendeya) through her search for self.
Wanendeya (The Woman and the writer) takes us through a touching, very human and gently funny journey, until we are brought out into the sunshine and the liberation of finding herself.
Director Newcombe, has made full use of the symbolic pile of clean white washing, a golden cord attached to The Women (Wanendeya), plus the reflections of self in The Chorus t-shirt labels, give a striking visual image. Newcombe certainly gives an unusual and amusing start to the performance!
The play does feel focused on a privileged group of women, who have not experienced any significant trauma in their lives. However, whether you are a middle aged women or not, everyone of us will find some part of this play relatable and perhaps spare a thought for the women in your life hitting a certain age!