Wed 27 Mar
words: GARETH LUDKIN
★★★★☆
Since its creation in 2002 as part of New International Encounter’s European Narratives trilogy, this critically celebrated tale of love, memory, heartbreak and hope has lost none of its zeal or emotion. NIE’s inventive use of space and playful sense of humour rejects barriers between storyteller and audience, creating an evocative and engaging production that pulls at the heartstrings whilst also making its audience laugh.
Greeting us in the foyer with free shots of Russian vodka and tea, Past Half Remembered opens with the sounds of live flute, guitar and accordion performed by the cast drawing us into our theatre seats where we are subsequently introduced to Maria Michailovna (played with great charisma by Aude Henrye), a 100-year-old Russian woman with a life blighted, shaped and transformed by war. Her crisp but delicate memories are brought to life with pathos and humour as cast members creatively share languages and roles to tell her story.
We learn of Maria’s life in Russia where she falls in love ahead of the start of World War I with her soon to be husband husband Noam. Injured at war and sent home with a medal for bravery, Noam returns to his wife as they try to put their lives back on track. Following the birth of their daughter, The Russian Revolution arrives to take Noam away once more, and as the eventual scourge of World War II threatens, Maria is almost on her knees, destitute but still full of hope that her husband will return to her and their child.
As we move through Maria’s emotional memories, the stage is playfully adapted to create shades of light and dark, humour and anguish. The part of Noam is excellently performed by both Keiron Edwards and Robert Orr, and apart from Maria as the central character, the fluid interplay of the other cast members (additionally including Rew Lowe, Anna Healey and Iva Moberg) carries the simple narrative structure of the play with ease.
In essence a tale of memory and storytelling, comedic elements are brought to the play as the cast break down the fourth wall between to involve the audience further in Maria’s story. Although some comedic moments felt a little over-played to the extent that the emotional cadence of the play was momentarily lost, the way in which Maria’s memories of wartime are evoked by the cast is largely achieved with sensitivity and welcome humour.
Rew Lowe, Keiron Edwards and Robert Orr stood out with their versatility, and even through the humorous aspects of the play, Maria’s story was allowed the necessary emotional weight to build to a powerful closing scene of Maria alone and barefoot in the snow waiting to see Noam one more time.
Layered, sensitive, emotional, but also playful, Past Half Remembered succeeds in re-telling a familiar tale of war, loss and hope in a fresh and enjoyable way that moves you from tears to laughter within moments.