The Albany – until 3 March. Reviewed by Claire Roderick
3***
Caroline Whitlock is dying slowly with cancer, and has been through many home care nurses before Veronika turns up. Caroline wants to die, but can’t find the strength to kill herself, so is determined to get Veronika to help her.
Writer Chisa Hutchinson has created two memorable characters in this play, and the exploration of mortality and morality that takes place is, at times, profound. But this isn’t some po-faced, well-meaning piece of theatre, the two characters are potty-mouthed, opinionated and very, very funny.
The gleefully dark humour as Caroline sweet-talks, bribes and threatens Veronika into assisting her suicide is handled with great skill by Lizan Mitchell, who spits insults and bigotry with gusto, but still manages to make Caroline’s (very rare) softer and vulnerable moments convincing and pitiable.
Kim Tatum as Veronika is the perfect foil, wielding her Christian faith like a shield, and building intensity in her performance to match Mitchell’s fire in later pivotal scenes.
The wonderfully evocative set recreates an old lady’s boudoir with a few simple touches, and director Rebecca Atkinson-Lord keeps the characters mobile in this wordy piece. There is a puzzlingly long silent scene while Veronika ponders her options, with numerous silent glances between the two as she makes the bed. This completely stalls the momentum of the play, and ultimately only adds the knowledge that Tatum’s bed making skills aren’t up to nursing standards.
The twists and turns as Veronika tries to ensure that Caroline won’t be punished for her sin add some moving moments, with Caroline’s childhood memories of church being a standout, but Caroline’s reactions when Veronika lets slip that she is a transwoman bring the worst out again as she rails against “death by tranny”.
Dead and Breathing tackles serious and contentious issues with twisted humour, but lots of respect, and is guaranteed to spark lots of debate in the bar after the show. Well worth a look.