Review: A Passionate Woman at Cheltenham Everyman

Everyman Theatre production of Kay Mellor's The Passionate Woman starring Liza Goddard, Anthony Eden and Russell Dixon - 16.2.17 **Free single use in conjunction with Everyman Theatre press release**The byline www.thousandwordmedia.com must by used with all images used** Picture by Antony Thompson - Thousand Word Media, NO SALES, NO SYNDICATION. Contact for more information mob: 07775556610 web: www.thousandwordmedia.com email: antony@thousandwordmedia.com The photographic copyright (© 2017) is exclusively retained by the works creator at all times and sales, syndication or offering the work for future publication to a third party without the photographer's knowledge or agreement is in breach of the Copyright Designs and Patents Act 1988, (Part 1, Section 4, 2b). Please contact the photographer should you have any questions with regard to the use of the attached work and any rights involved.

Posted By: Olivia Scull February 22, 2017

We all know a Betty, a passionate woman with a zest for life, desperate to adventure but hopelessly tied down to mundane life. Contrary and bumbling you see the character bursting at the seams to try and live a life she once dreamed of, or had.

 

It’s the day of her son Mark’s wedding and she’s confined herself to the attic, refusing

Everyman Theatre production of Kay Mellor's The Passionate Woman starring Liza Goddard, Anthony Eden and Russell Dixon - 16.2.17 **Free single use in conjunction with Everyman Theatre press release**The byline www.thousandwordmedia.com must by used with all images used** Picture by Antony Thompson - Thousand Word Media, NO SALES, NO SYNDICATION. Contact for more information mob: 07775556610 web: www.thousandwordmedia.com email: antony@thousandwordmedia.com The photographic copyright (© 2017) is exclusively retained by the works creator at all times and sales, syndication or offering the work for future publication to a third party without the photographer's knowledge or agreement is in breach of the Copyright Designs and Patents Act 1988, (Part 1, Section 4, 2b). Please contact the photographer should you have any questions with regard to the use of the attached work and any rights involved.

to come down. You feel like you’re sat amongst the boxes of old toys and Christmas decorations listening to her chit chatting about her trips to Asda and ladders in her tights. It’s easy to side with her to begin, but you end up jumping to and from each family member seeing things from their perspective.
The play could easily become dry and boring, due to little visual stimuli, but the fast paced dialogue and progression of character dynamics allow for an engaging tale. The sixty-something year old longing for excitement amongst a world of humdrum routine keeps the character and story relatable. The narrative teeters on the edge of being a play about a slightly crazy lady moaning in her attic, but is kept within the realms of sanity by Liza Goddard’s captivating performance.

 

Everyman Theatre production of Kay Mellor's The Passionate Woman starring Liza Goddard, Anthony Eden and Russell Dixon - 16.2.17 **Free single use in conjunction with Everyman Theatre press release**The byline www.thousandwordmedia.com must by used with all images used** Picture by Antony Thompson - Thousand Word Media, NO SALES, NO SYNDICATION. Contact for more information mob: 07775556610 web: www.thousandwordmedia.com email: antony@thousandwordmedia.com The photographic copyright (© 2017) is exclusively retained by the works creator at all times and sales, syndication or offering the work for future publication to a third party without the photographer's knowledge or agreement is in breach of the Copyright Designs and Patents Act 1988, (Part 1, Section 4, 2b). Please contact the photographer should you have any questions with regard to the use of the attached work and any rights involved.

.

Craze, the ghost, who represents Betty’s passion, is the man she once fell deeply in love with before marrying her now husband, Donald, due to getting pregnant with Mark. He drops into the picture mixing up the conservative home with saucy comments to sway the confused Betty. Moments between the now old Betty and still young Craze caused me to hold my breath and cringe in my seat.
Tension builds as you reach the conclusion but the far fetched ending left me feeling unsatisfied. It didn’t quite aline with or resolve the realistic play it had been up until then. A lovely finale with an adorable surprise but an ending that left me hungry for more.
The comedy and emotion was evenly spread keeping the performance at a pleasant tone but for me the acting took centre stage, allowing simple storytelling to powerfully capture the true to life issues portrayed throughout.
A Passionate Woman is on at the Cheltenham Everyman until Saturday February 25

 

Find more of Olivia’s work on her blog:
http://www.watchingfromthecheapseats.wordpress.com
Photos by: Antony Thompson, Thousand Word Media

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