Death and the Maiden

This play demanded skilful directing from Richard Lindfield to keep the tension throughout, while drawing the audience in to an uneasy present, infected by past trauma. This was cleverly achieved and allowed the audience to be sucked in and held in a vice like grip until the curtain call.

The play is set in Chile as the country is recovering from the rule of General Pinochet. Paulina, a former political prisoner who was kidnapped and tortured during the regime,  is still traumatised and trapped by her fears and memories years later.  Her husband Gerado, a human-rights lawyer about to join the new government’s investigating commission, brings home the man who helped him when his car breaks down. She recognises his voice as that of her torturer Dr Roberto Miranda. and decides to exact revenge and make him confess.

The actors were perfect in role, especially Victoria Thomson as Paulina who powerfully portrayed a character both terrified and then revengeful. The way she mocked Miranda by repeating phrases she’d had said to her when she was tortured showed an excellent range of vocal technique and body language.

Jeremy Crow as Gerado was well cast as her loving yet bewildered husband appalled by the situation and unsure whether Paulina is correct or delusional. His occasional one liners, timed perfectly, added a dark humorous twist.

Chris Parke as Roberto navigated the waters between righteous anger, and fear without revealing any clear signs of guilt or innocence.

The set was a spacious sea view on stage with seats, and a simple home set on the floor, contrasting space and hope with claustrophobic darkness.  Great sound effects of the car coming and going, the car door slamming and the gun shot. This made everyone jump and pervaded the atmosphere with the smell of gunpowder; a nice touch.

A question mark ending showed the face of polite society with its potential to hide hatred and cruelty. It ended with the hauntingly beautiful voice of Samantha Brennan performing Schubert’s Death and the Maiden, which had punctuated it throughout.

It was a thought provoking, sad, yet beautifully played production.

© NODA CIO. All rights reserved.