12.98°C A sacred space. That’s what men are led to believe about women’s toilets, a place where secrets are shared, tears are shed, and confidences are revealed. It’s certainly true of this new play written by Wendy James, performed at The Dragonfly Lounge as part of the Colchester Fringe. In this intimate setting, four women escape the pressures of life for just a few minutes. A chorus of cleaners provides verbal and non-verbal commentary, inventively acting as a Greek chorus. Created from conversations with women met in the Lion Walk Public Toilets who gave up their time to help shape the piece, this is a powerful tribute to female solidarity.
The piece is beautifully choreographed to lead us into the first monologue, with Abi Cunliffe portraying a woman repeatedly striking her shoulder, believing that if she reaches a certain number uninterrupted, her sister will live – a pattern repeated throughout the show.
Sofia Ferreira plays a hairdresser who escapes the salon for a few minutes to her thoughts in the staff toilet, mops becoming clients in a scene that is both funny and poignant. Director Richard Bland has made some brave and exciting decisions, though it felt a shame that the third monologue, Nice Boots, was divided among the chorus rather than spoken by Rosie Allen. She responded brilliantly and emotionally to the text, but this strictly wasn’t a monologue.
The whole piece was then lifted by the final scene, I Do, superbly performed by Rebecca Helen as a bride questioning her choices just before the ceremony. It contained much humour and just the right amount of light and shade.
Overall, this was impressive work and, although I wasn’t the target audience, it was good to see a large, mixed house. While it occasionally felt a little dramatically overloaded, it has been created with great care and tenderness.
Review by Paul T. Davies, Theatre Editor, Keep Colchester Cool
