Woman In Mind (Birmingham REP)

Alan Ayckbourn‘s 32nd play, Woman in Mind is currently at the Birmingham Repertory Theatre in a co-production with the Dundee Rep. Told from the viewpoint of Susan, the unconventional narrative unfolds before us.

In reality Susan is in a long, but unhappy, marriage to her husband Gerald – a vicar more interested in the parish history. She has a son who’s joined a sect and no longer talks to her and an interfering sister in law who can’t cook or make coffee.

After working in the garden and stepping on the rake bringing the handle to meet her head, she starts to hallucinate about being the wife and mother in a very different family. In which she has a daughter who relies on her, a husband who still lusts after her and a brother who will protect her. But while she considers this new family to be perfect, the play takes darker turns which places question marks over both the families.

Performed on a silver birch flanked set designed by Ti Green with an attractive projection laid, but almost pointless, cube hanging above them, the cast is magnificently led by Meg Fraser playing Susan, who flits between her Scottish and southern accents with ease (to the point of never knowing which may be her native accent as both are so strong) signalling to the audience to what mind set she is in.

Along with subtle lighting changes and changes in the projections it is kept clear to the audience as to where we are in Susan’s state. The reality being more humorous yet whilst the dreamlike is more romantic both are just as tragic.

Meg Fraser excels as Susan, flitting from the serious to the humorous to the dark effortlessly. Her put downs to her husband Gerald (played by Richard Conlon) and his sister Muriel (played by a Penelope Wilton like Irene Macdougall) are beyond the funniest moments of the play.

I was also impressed by newcomer Laura Dale who played Susan’s imaginary daughter Lucy with a mixture of innocence but evilness in equal measure.

This isn’t a typical Ayckbourne and so those expecting one will be surprised as here we delve deep into the mind and are witnesses to a tragic mental breakdown.

It may leave you scratching your head and asking questions, but Marilyn Imrie’s production is certainly enlightening and entertaining.