Writer: Edward Albee
Starring: Janine Swainson, Nigel Slaughter, Abigail von Ahsen and Jared Wooldridge
Director: Owen Mooney
Producers: Janine Swainson and Our Theatre Company
The Meteor, 14-17 August 2024
Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf premiered on Broadway in October 1962. It won the Tony Award for Best Play in 1963 and the New York Drama Critics’ Circle Award for Best Play for 1962-63. In 1966, it went on to become a film starring Richard Burton, Elizabeth Taylor, Sandy Dennis, and George Segal. All four actors were nominated for Academy Awards, with Taylor and Dennis winning their respective categories. It was last staged in Hamilton decades ago and was long overdue for another outing.
But as the saying goes, good things take time. Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf unexpectedly took forever to return to Kirikiriroa, six years in fact. A global pandemic, changes to the cast, and a pre-planned extended overseas trip during the rehearsal period weren’t going to stop producer and actor Janine Swainson from realising her dream role of Martha alongside a solid cast of co-stars, one of whom suffered a broken ankle and was still recovering during the season.
The play begins at 2am as middle-aged Martha and George (Nigel Slaughter) arrive home drunk from a faculty party at the university run by Martha’s father. During the course of the evening, Martha had befriended a younger couple, Nick (Jared Wooldridge) and Honey (Abigail von Ahsen) and invited them over for post-event drinks. Martha and George have a fractured relationship and as the morning wears on and the drinking continues, secrets based in reality and illusion are revealed by all.
Slaughter and Swainson’s roles were massive undertakings, and both totally captured the essence of their toxic and wretched relationship. With nearly a thousand lines to deliver, Slaughter was utterly convincing as George, lacking in ambition and not living up to Martha’s expectations as a husband or potential replacement for her father at the university. Swainson gave the performance of a lifetime, setting a new benchmark for the emotional depth she brought to Martha. Von Ahsen was a delight, and her portrayal of the silly and dim Honey often provided some light relief. Wooldridge is an exceptionally reliable performer who this time embodied the charm, weakness and vulnerability of Nick. All four actors were extremely well-rehearsed and the undercurrents throughout were captivating.
The audience entered through the doors of George and Martha’s home and had to cross over the living room to be seated. The semi-transversal layout of the stage gave a feeling of intimacy, as though the audience were also guests of Martha and George. The Meteor was the ideal theatre for staging the play in this manner.
The set could not be faulted. The clutter of books, glasses, bottles, rugs, lamps, and seating imbued a real sense of being inside a university lecturer’s home. Karen Lovegrove’s lighting was sublime enhancing the living room. The reduction to the final spotlight was perfection.
The play is long. Three hours in fact plus two intermissions. Owen Mooney’s staging and attention to pace and action meant that it felt far less, perhaps a couple of hours tops. Had my own schedule allowed, I would have attended a second performance. Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf was magnificent.
4 Actors
3 Acts
2 Intermissions
1 exceptional production.
Comments