Written in 1999, before she became poet laureate, ‘The World’s Wife’ is Carol Ann Duffy’s re-imagining of the great men in myth and history, through the eyes of the women around them.
In this adaptation of the anthology for stage, director Di Sherlock and actress Linda Marlowe have created something which is difficult to categorize. Part poetry recital, part theatre, Marlowe performs 19 of Duffy’s poems, as 19 different characters, over the course of 75 minutes.
(THE GOWN DISCOVERED TODAY THAT THE NEW LIBRARY AT QUEEN’S DOES NOT HAVE ANY POETRY BOOKS BY CAROL ANN DUFFY, DESPITE HER BEING POET LAUREATE)
BY CONNELL LOCKE
Disregarding convention and pretense, these monologues dazzle with crescendos of emotion, and twists of incisive wit. A collection of consciousness, observation and humor; the poems are a radical, often surreal reinvention of familiar and unfamiliar female characters.
No longer a helpless victim in need of rescue, Little Red Riding Hood is now a sexually charged teenager preying on the wolf. ‘Beauty’ (of Beauty and the Beast) is a domineering cynic, while Greek monster Medusa owes her serpentine hair to the bitterness and rage she felt at her lover’s betrayal. Jabs at the weakness and stupidity of men abound in this feminist series, but it would be utterly wrong to accuse Duffy of cliché, at all times her verse is intelligent and witty.
Linda Marlowe’s performance in service to these wonderful poems has been met with well-deserved acclaim. From the raw and impassioned Mrs. Quasimodo, to the imposing terror of Queen Herod, Marlowe convincingly assumes an astonishing number of accents and mannerisms in bringing these characters to life.
The show’s only flaw is that it doesn’t always straddle the distance between recital and play successfully. Although minimalist, the set design and use of props felt clumsy, the music often intrusive. In fact, almost every theatrical ploy seemed redundant, serving only to draw attention away from the central power of Duffy’s words and Marlowe’s magnetic performance.
Despite these minor quibbles ‘The World’s Wife’ is an impressive achievement, delighting the audience and showcasing two extraordinary talents.