The World’s Wife (Edinburgh & tour)

Marlowe gives the low down on Salome, waking up, as usual, with a
head on the pillow beside her; on Eurydice as a vengeful Germaine Greer
typing out the songs of a tiresome Orestes; and on Mrs Quasimodo
attacking the bells, and the balls, of the monster of Notre Dame.In the latter instance, she adopts the simian gait and oafish drawl
of her husband, giving brilliant physical expression to Duffy’s point
that every bad man has a good woman inside him screaming to get out.

Hilariously, Mrs Freud recites a rude litany of synonyms for the
penis without the envy, and the Kray Sisters are re-launched as
liberating suffragists in a tough man’s underworld, as well as his
underpants.

In Di Sherlock’s witty, fleet-footed production, beautifully
designed with minimalist projections and graphics, Marlowe lets rip
with her trademark searing energy and grace. She’s presented several
fine Edinburgh solo shows over the years; this one tops the lot.

Circe the sorceress turns men into swine at a finger-lickin’ hog
roast, Queen Kong goes shopping and keeps the old boy in her fur for
ten years, and even the devil’s wife turns out to be none other than a
tragically viewed version of Myra Hindley. Not to be missed.

– Michael Coveney

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