FRINGE 2019: The World’s Wife a dark, dangerous exploration of womankind
The World’s Wife
Stage 8 (Old Strathcona Performing Arts Centre)
The World’s Wife is a three person play that takes the audience on a chaotic, tradition upending journey through history, mythology, fairytale and, well, real life. The work is adapted from a cycle of poems from Scottish poet Carol Anne Duffy’s wry book of the same name, and remarkably morphs into a piece of real theatre under the sensitive direction of Trevor Schmidt and the dramatic smarts of three of Edmonton’s most seasoned pros, Davina Stewart, Cheryl Jameson and Linda Grass. Between them they create a pantheon of powerful women – naive, innocent, evil, seductive and bright.
Duffy rummages through history to look at the attitudes of the wives of “great men.” Without stepping on the many surprises of the show, perhaps a few examples will give you an idea of the pleasures on offer. Rather than celebrate the evil force she has become, Medusa laments the passing of the lovely girl she once was. Frau Freud has a rare old time rattling through an inventory of words she knows for penises; while Mrs. Quasimodo, sinking in a sea of self-loathing and rage, strikes out at the misshapen man she loves. The bell ringer’s wife longs for quiet. Turns out that Mrs. Van Winkle really enjoyed the peace when her husband slumbered for that decade. Mrs. Beast has accepted that her lover is, indeed, a beast and she seems not overly happy with that – but, she observes brightly, the sex is great. Mrs. Midas, whose husband the King turns everything he touches into gold, has never forgiven him for his selfish wish and demands her mate keep his hands to himself (and off the cat).
The play does not champion any particular feminist point of view but attempts to demonstrate the many sides of being a woman – and a wife. Schmidt makes sure that that his performers draw deeply into emotions recognizable to us all. This is the second time around for Schmidt with this play – he won the Sterling for his direction the first time.
Even those poor wretches who are the object of all this derision and good natured acrimony, the husbands, would find little to object to here.
The World’s Wife is a wild ride through the dark and dangerous aspect of womankind and the wily combination of potent words and the skill of three exciting performers (and one ace director), makes for an irresistible entertainment.
4 out of 5
