The Killing of Sister George was first developed as a play in the 1960s and rapidly became a cult classic – so much so that it became a hit film with Beryl Reid playing the title role. However, the theatregoer should not expect a rerun of the sixty-year old version of this piece of theatre. Director Paul Hunter and the co-production team of Told By An Idiot and The New Vic have updated some of the messages while keeping the action and flavour of the play deeply rooted in its original era.
The basic premise of Frank Marcus’ play is that the main character is a much-loved loved member of the radio series Applehurst – a typically twee English village whose traditional way of life was threatened by the new cultural wave. George is played by June Buckeridge (Hayley Carmichael) as a typically sweet District Nurse who is the friend to everyone and the rock on which the village society survives.
Like much in this production, everything is not what it appears on the surface. Buckeridge is nothing like her character in real life. A hard-drinking woman who does not carry her character’s kindness, she is in a lesbian relationship – very much played down in comparison with the original play – with the much younger Alice/Childie (Ada Player).
The relationship between the two is a fraught one with Buckeridge having dominatrix-style sway over her partner and this situation is not helped by the older partner’s paranoia. Approval ratings for the show are falling and – just as is happening in current times – the BBC is keen to make sweeping changes to the personnel. Older established members are under threat to be replaced by fresher blood.
Fearful of rejection in both her professional and private lives – Alice has a wandering eye and is quick to establish friendships with lodgers of her neighbour Madame Xenia (Rina Fatania) – Buckeridge tries to seek solace in the predictions of her dubiously clairvoyant neighbour. Unfortunately, all of her fears are brought to fruition with the arrival of BBC executive Mercy Croft (Patrycja Kujawska) who tries to sweeten the bitter pill of Buckeridge’s removal from the series by offering a leading role in another production.
Like much else in the play, the audience member comes to the realisation that characters and the action on stage mask other realities. Alice has loyalties to her partner but is willing to allow others into her life and her childish demeanour hides another persona; Croft tries to portray herself as a sympathetic employer but has ulterior motives to insinuate herself into the household and to humiliate the actress.
The audience also knows that they are watching a play within a play unfolding before them as the foley is in evidence to show sound effects being created and there are directions from the script read out to the cast from offstage.
The New Vic Costume Department has produced clothing that takes us back to the 1960s and there is well-chosen background music selected by Sound Designer Sophie Cotton that both add to the
experience and provide support to some excellent acting and interaction between the characters. This is the first appearance in Newcastle for all cast members and they would surely be welcomed
back with open arms.
This is an intriguing play full of dark humour and well worth a visit. It is not necessarily as comfortable a ride as listening to an episode of Applehurst but if a piece of theatre is meant to entertain and provoke thought then The Killing of Sister George is very successful in hitting its targets.
The play continues until May 13th and has a running time of approximately 2 hours 30 minutes including interval.
