Girl In The Yellow Dress, Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh
Aug 16 2010 by Sam Wonfor, The Journal
WHEN I left the Traverse Theatre in Edinburgh, I quickly came over all peculiar. I found a bench to gather myself on and promptly burst into tears.
To put this into context, this would not come under the heading of ‘normal behaviour’ for me and I lay the credit for this firmly at the door of The Girl in the Yellow Dress.
Written by up-and-coming South African writer, Craig Higginson, the play is a co-production by Market Theatre, Johannesburg, Citizens Theatre, Glasgow and Live Theatre in Newcastle.
Its five short acts, played out against a minimalist, white backdrop of books, chronicle the relationship between Celia, a young English woman from rich stock, who has escaped to Paris from something unknown; and Pierre, a young, French-Congolese man who comes to her to perfect his English and satisfy his ulterior motives. As their relationship develops, a sizzling connection, the scars left by past traumas and a clutch of racial tensions begin to surface, culminating in a dramatic and vicious climax.
Although dark, sexually charged and spell-bindingly tense at times, the play also offers light moments, mostly via its dual purpose as a masterclass in the English language.
It wasn’t perfect. There were a few occasions when I thought it may wander too far up its own past participle.
But the power of the performances from Marianne Oldham and Nat Ramabulana always brought it back... and clearly got to me like nothing on stage for a long time. The play is coming to Live Theatre from September 7 to 18. Call 0191 232 1232 to book. Quickly.
