The Quays Theatre, Lowry, Manchester – Tuesday March 7th 2017. Reviewed by Julie Noller
Upon collecting my tickets I was thrilled with my programme which appeared in book format with a full copy of the forthcoming play written by Caryl Churchill. The usher informed myself and everyone else entering that the play would be 50 minutes long without an interval and as such be prepared before entering to have any comfort breaks now and to please turn off all mobile phones as the theatre will need to be pitch black. Eeeekk what is going to happen?
Indeed the theatre was plunged into total darkness but around us was the sound of children laughing, birds singing – it must be summertime! The lights illuminated the stage, where the set was a plain old garden fence with an open gate it reminded me of looking towards a television set with the edges of the stage framing it. And there on stage stood a woman looking nervous, she spoke to us yet it wasn’t clear if she knew we were there or just generally thinking out loud. Her voice was unmistakable as Linda Bassett of Call The Midwife fame. We hear voices off stage appearing to drift through the open gate from the garden beyond. The lights dim to pitch black something we are going to have to get used to. Cue scene change to inside the garden where sits the aforementioned Mrs Jarrett and 3 others – this could be me in a mere 20 years time, sat with my friends in my garden enjoying a gossip and a cuppa. The play is somewhat surreal and indeed I understand why you are discouraged from leaving for you need to be aware at all times – simply blink and you may miss a minor detail that will lead to a misunderstanding.
My understanding of Escaped Alone was different to my friends and will probably be different to yours. I believe it is all down to the individual’s interpretation. Go with an open mind, prepare to be puzzled, go for a drink afterwards. Enjoy every detail of this 50 minute play and then allow 2 hours minimum to discuss! It’s very thought provoking, for that reason I thoroughly enjoyed it. Brilliantly acted from bizarre to scary to emotional. Why all those things? Well it appears to touch on the topic of today without actually saying it – mental health.
We have 3 good friends sat together in the safety of a garden (we never find out who the garden belongs to, all of them? None of them? I even questioned if they are real)
Sally (Deborah Findlay), Lena (Kika Markham) and Vi (June Watson), it’s very obvious they have been friends a very long time. Just as expected they know each others flaws and fears which are tolerated. They each finish the others sentences both in knowledge and also a sense of protection.
As the play progresses the theatre is often plunged into total darkness, to have a spotlight illuminate Mrs Jarrett stood solitary at the edge of the stage with a bright orange coil of light lit up surrounding the frame of the stage edge she addresses us the audience. These breaks in the mundane life of the 4 woman sat drinking tea during summer filled me with confusion, had there been a nuclear holocaust? Some disaster? Was Caryl Churchill trying to bring our attention to some catastrophe (you can see early on I was already questioning everything and starting to look for clues). These breaks were sometimes amusing, other times I wondered should I feel amused? Should others be laughing? Should I feel emotional?
Back to the garden each time where life continues over general chit chat with glimpses into each of our ladies lives – Vi had been away for a period of 6 years, we later find out she had stabbed her husband in ‘self defence’, Sally an ex GP who appears to have missed a diagnosis of cancer in one of her patients, Lena who had been a highflyer in an office was now scared to go out alone.
We are treated to a glimpse into each ladies ‘head’ as the lights dim on all the others periodically allowing us to see what their friends do not. Making me sense that we don’t always show our true selves to those around us, everyday life is quite often an act.
Sally who has an intense fear of cats and checks everywhere they might be inside her house, Lena looks for rooms with nothing which is better than dealing with things, Vi who can’t love a kitchen and despairs at the lost relationship with her son.
The play ends with Mrs Jarrett who has her time alone within the garden spotlight, chanting 2 words ‘terrible rage’ each chant getting louder and quite frankly scaring me into what would happen.
What follows is a joke about chickens crossing the road and then Mrs Jarrett makes her leave thanking the ladies foe her tea and closing the gate she leaves and the play ends.
I feel anything I write should contain a spoiler alert clause don’t let my confusion or questioning put you off this play as I’ve said its only 50 minutes long, brilliantly acted and very thought provoking as to how and why the 4 women had ‘Escaped Alone’ .