Review: WHISPERS, Old Rep Theatre - Hysteria Festival

Photo credit: Charlotte Nova

In a time when choosing your husband wasn’t a right but a privilege, and a rare one at that, PM Jones finds herself in Victorian England, a loveless marriage and a cruel social convention where feminine adultery is condemned.

Patrycja Zajac appears in this one-woman show as the central character; years of physical and emotional abuse breaking down her self-esteem and driving her to the point of insanity. The physicality of the performance is apparent from the beginning but with a lot of information in a very wordy script and spoken with the same pitch throughout, it’s very hard as an audience to stay focused.

The dialogue does, however, highlight the strife of the female within this time period. The unfairness and treatment of women in comparison to men for the same misdemeanour. It’s no wonder that murder and a lifetime in an asylum was preferable to living in these situations.

Performed in a penny dreadful style, the content provides an entertaining story, but the outcome is predictable and lacks the twists and turns needed for this genre. Maybe a shorter piece with one or two other actors would be more appealing?

A potentially gripping piece, but more levels needed to truly thrill the horror seekers.

** Two stars

Reviewed by: Rachel Louise Martin

Hysteria is a women-led theatre and arts festival taking place at The Old Rep Theatre in Birmingham until 30 July. Celebrating the power and diversity of female-identifying playwrights, directors, actors, comedians, creatives and designers.