Theatre Reviews

In a simple white room, decorated only by a large wardrobe, a dying mother of eight looks back with bitterness at a sham marriage and at the chances at happiness she never grasped.

Her cad of a husband, who betrayed her time and time again, returns to see her off, and even at the eleventh hour can't stop tormenting her, seeming to blame her for her early death like it was a form of revenge.

Scarecrow, the woman's inner self, sits on her bed and berates her for putting up with 'Him', like a best friend with the gloves off. Although the woman defends herself and says she never opted for the happiness option - which she points out is not a god given right anyway.

"Happiness! Everyone thinks they have a God-given right to it. Sure it's only a recent invention of the Sunday papers," she sneers.

Her cold fish Auntie Ah, shows up, clearly relishing her part in the death scene and eager for the proper mourning to start.

Even on her deathbed she has no warmth for her niece - "stop blathering, you're dying not going mad."

The props and sound effects are nothing short of scary. Scarecrow sheds her skin as the woman inches towards that place that falls between life and death.

The fear of reaching your deathbed and looking back at a life not fully lived, is one that will accost anyone going to see this play.

But don't let that put you off. This is not a depressing play at all - there is too much humour.

It's so well written with brilliant comedy within all the tragedy ensuring it never slips into hard going.

Barbara Brennan gives a fiery performance as Scarecrow and Olwen Fouéré gives a really unforgettable mecurial performance of the woman - she manages to be childlike, haglike, pitiful and very funny - all in the space of minutes.

Carr's gift for description and clever dialogue, a striking set and costume design and strong performances from all make this a two-hour death scene to remember.

Mary McCarthy