THEATRE REVIEW: Boston Marriage [Theatre Buff]

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Behind the scenes after the final curtain call...

THEATRE REVIEW: Boston Marriage

Posted on June 17, 2008 6:37 PM
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David Mamet's, "Boston Marriage"
The Sturdy Beggars Theatre Company
Friday 6 June 2008

Review by Tim Kernutt

Is it the second coming of Oscar Wilde? No, it is David Mamet at his scriptwriting best.

And judging by the performance of David Mamet', "Boston Marriage", directed by Alex Andreou, the Sturdy Beggar's Theatre Company are certainly an ambitious, talented and passionate bunch. Playing to a packed audience in the cosy Pacific Playhouse near London Bridge, the play impressed everyone with its perfect take on Mamet's saucy storyline.

Mamet's scripting of "Boston Marriage" was said to be in direct response to certain criticism of his writing, which people had told him was male-centric. In fact, some people went even further and told him that he did not offer good roles for women at all. "Boston Marriage" was a direct face-off to his critics, and interestingly the title of the play refers to New England women at the turn of the twentieth century - often feminists or intellectuals - who lived with one another, sometimes without men. The women were often independently wealthy and even though the relations between the women co-habiting were sometimes sexual, this was not always the case. But if not sexually connected, invariably the women would at least be emotionally tied.

The basic premise of the storyline is that Claire (played by Nicola Rockhill) tells Anna (played by Heather Darcy) that she has fallen in love with a young woman who is attractive but naive. Anna is immediately hurt, but tries to persuade Claire to convince the young woman to engage in a sexual act with both her and Claire. However their plans are quashed when the young woman recognises jewellery given to Anna by the wealthy "gentleman" who is maintaining her, as her mothers. The resulting attempts by the women to smooth things over with Anna's keeper and the young woman is delivered through quick-witted Victorian-era dialogue in which the women's relationship as well as the long-suffering maid are explored. The focal point is the conflict arising between Anna and Claire. However, "Boston Marriage" is more a play on language than anything else - the expression "gymnastic exercise in language" springs to mind - and the audience was at times struggling to keep up with the fast pace of the script. Or perhaps that was just me.

The two main characters of the play, Anna and Claire, clearly have a strong bond. Anna flitters between manipulation, jealousy, envy and cattiness in her interaction with Claire. The third character, Catherine (played with biting bit by Victoria Strachan), is representative of the working classes and is a hapless maid to Anna who is bossed around and treated with more disdain than a trainee in a company. Yet it is Catherine, arguably, who is the only likeable character. Anna believes that the joke is definitely on the maid, however it is Anna herself who is the laughing stock as she is exposed as a social-climber at the top of the ladder looking down her nose at the "peasants" such as Catherine, who is more emotionally intelligent and useful to society than Anna.

Mamet's witticisms vary at times between mildly sexual and overtly sexual, with the sexual innuendo culminating in a stage kiss between Anna and Claire. However, the sexual nature of the play, and its quick-wit, is a charade of sorts to some darker themes cloaked in humour, such as racism, class prejudice, deceit, exploitation of the working class and jealousy.

David Mamet's script is definately complex and must have taken some rehearsing, clearly evident in the skilful performance which was impeccable. This was an ambitious play for a theatre company to perform, as there was relentless pressure being cast upon the actors due to the snappy dialogue and the interaction between the characters.

This look at high society at the turn of the last century was cleverly performed by Sturdy Beggars, and I look forward to their next play.

Related links:
Sturdy Beggars official site.