Following a successful run at last year's ( and this year's) Edinburgh festival Linda Marlowe is now embarking on a tour of " The World's Wife". Adapted from Carol Ann Duffy's 1999 book of poems the reknowned actress brings to life a wide-range of women, some known in their own right but all having famous husbands.
One person shows are an art form in themselves as the solo artiste is in complete control of the production and the audience. It must be like performing on a tightrope as you have nowhere to turn if things fail to go according to plan. The structure of the piece must be right with serious, sad, funny, short and long poems selected to capture the interest of the audience and allow an actress to display all her qualities.
With the music of Madaleine Peyroux creating a gentle feminine feel Linda Marlowe started with the humorous, yet macabre tale of Little Red Riding Hood before plunging straight into the tragic arms of Mrs Herod. Much needed fun came from Mrs Freud, Queen Kong and Mrs Darwin providing unexpected twists on their better known other halves.
The second part had a general nod to classical heroines, Eurydice, Penelope, Salome and Medusa. This serious segment prepared us and the actress for the extraordinary sequence of " The Devil's Wife" where she portrayed Myra Hindley. This was so commanding and intense that the whole audience and performer were entirely connected. The end of the show shortly afterwards was a merciful release so we could concentrate on breathing again.
This was my 1st trip to the famous Theatre Clywd, Mold, and felt that the atmosphere created by the intimate Emlyn Williams theatre perfectly re-created the Edinburgh fringe. Credit must obviously go the current Poet Laureate for the words but it was the versatile performance of Linda Marlowe who truly brought these diverse creatures to life. An evening to long linger in the memory.
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