Yerma
August 18, 2016, The Young Vic
I have been surprised at the number of people who, in the last day, have casually said “oh yeah, that’s by Lorca, right?” I have never heard of him. Ever. I assumed this was based on Greek tragedy. Simon Stone (the playwright) has even asserted it to be Greek in essence. Usually it’s only the Greeks that dealt with such pain and such distress. Now I have a new name — Lorca.
(Who’s this Simon Stone? The YV describe him as the Enfant Terrible of Australian theatre. Based on this he’s a name to watch out for.)
Stone described this as a tragic poem. Tragic is an understatement. This reworking is brought bang up to date. Away from the rural setting of 1930’s Spain and into 2016 Britain — one of Brexit, Sadiq as Mayor, Boris Bikes, bloggers and ubiquitous Festivals…
John and Her are in love. They’ve just bought a massive house in an up and coming neighbourhood. It has three floors, so, room for a baby. Her has never wanted a baby until now… she suddenly seems taken with the idea. It’s an idea that turns into an obsession that becomes all consuming. It eventually destroys her relationship with John and destroys Her in a shockingly sad and poignant spiral of hope mixed with despair and obsession.
Billie Piper is bloody brilliant. She gives an extraordinarily powerful performance as Her. Mesmerising. Brendan Cowell as John is equally powerful (this would have been a disaster if he wasn't). We observe a middle class, well off, ambitious, successful couple “managing” a hiccup in their perfect life and perfect plans that turns into something that can no longer be simply managed and that rips at the heart of them.
Her turns against her partner, her sister (who manages to be wonderfully fertile while Her is not), her Mother (who is a superb Maureen Beattie — an academic, not naturally warm and cuddly and fantastically logical, rational yet hippie with some epic one liners). She has a confused relationship with her ex, blurring the lines. We learn they were able to get pregnant in their early 20s but she had an abortion. It fuels her obsession to have a child.
It’s an emotional ride. It isn’t for everyone. It’s not easy but it is so bloody worth it. La Madonna was sobbing through the second half, as were many of the audience. I shed a tear too — I’d be made of stone if I didn’t. It hits a raw nerve in today’s society. One that wants choices, wants to control nature and to suit itself. One that is hard and invincible on the outside, yet incredibly vunerable and helpless on the inside. The pain is unbearable.
It hits home. It’s brilliant. It’s the best thing I’ve seen this year (apart from Daniel Mays monologue in The Caretaker.) And yes… I gave it a standing ovation.
6/5 Sold out. Do whatever you can to get a ticket.
