No excuses can hide the criminal actions of a Nazi fellow-traveller in this admirably objective documentary, suggests MARTIN HALL
No woman no cry
SIMON PARSONS is discomfited by an unflichingly negative portrait of motherhood and its trials
Lizzie Watts and Andre Squire in Jane Upton’s (the) Woman
PAUL DONOVAN relishes a fascinating exploration of the leading lights of the Labour right in the 1970s
BEN LUNN alerts us to the creeping return of philanthropy and private patronage, and suggests alternative paths to explore
A novel by Argentinian Jorge Consiglio, a personal dictionary by Uruguayan Ida Vitale, and poetry by Mexican Homero Aridjis
MIK SABIERS savours the first headline solo show of the stalwart of Brighton’s indie-punk outfit Blood Red Shoes
New releases reviewed by IAN SINCLAIR
STEVEN ANDREW is moved beyond words by a historical account of mining in Britain made from the words of the miners themselves
(the) Woman
The North Wall Arts Centre, Oxford
JANE UPTON’s unflinching diatribe against motherhood largely takes the form of a series of duologues or hard hitting, humorous sketches about a female playwright facing the physical, emotional and psychological challenges of coping with a baby.
From the sexual strains on her marriage and exhaustion to restrictive social perceptions of motherhood and the impact on her career, (not to mention the physical changes brought on by childbirth), the 100-minute play takes a broad sweep at the often overlooked, lifechanging event of raising a child.
Lizzy Watts plays the sharply spoken, often crude mother with more than her share of attitude, but this slightly unsympathetic portrayal fits the character’s own sense of self-loathing brought on by a minefield of contending emotions and degraded self-image.
More from this author
SIMON PARSONS applauds an imaginative and absorbing updating of Strindberg’s classic
SIMON PARSONS applauds an insightful state-of-the-nation play that explores the growing class divide in South Africa
SIMON PARSONS applauds a tense and thoughtful production that regularly challenges our political engagement and prejudices
SIMON PARSONS questions whether a dark take on Shakespeare’s Seasonal comedy is in harmony with the original text
