Virginia Woolf (1882-1941) (Nicola Hollinshead), suicided writer, returns from the dead to the present to star - reluctantly - in a low-brow TV celeb makeover show directed by lively Jenny (Victoria Johnston). It's a turning-point for both women, in a perky, cheeky satire on the po-faced heroine of letters who some say might have spared the world a lot of literary babble had her earlier (four) suicide attempts been successful - preferably, perhaps, all of them.

Steve Harris directs with a crisp eye for the play's atmosphere, its turning-points, and potential stumble-point - that people who care may know not only that VW is dead, but exactly how. After all, pretty much any sentence containing her name carries on with how she walked into a pond etc. Steve Harris solves this by superb underwater-effect lighting, opening to the start of a drowning sound-track; returning to this between acts, and concluding in a skilful way. There's also the use of Leonard Cohen's sublime First We Take Manhattan, Then We Take Berlin - as intro, and to sound-track the skittish centre act, where a beautician (Victoria Johnston) does the makeover - with drill, chisel, hammer, industrial foam-filler.

And three acts. It's a remarkable achievement of writer Paola Trimarco to create so perfectly a model of a complete play into 35 minutes in full 3-act structure. The play uses those 3 acts more exactly and excellently than most 2-hour productions. There could be a quibble round the last 30 seconds, which is understandable - it's difficult to bring a conclusion to a woman many people will know is dead. But the direction and acting skirt round this inherent technical problem well, and it's a small complaint in a very entertaining play. Many plays cry out to be cut to this length and exposure of sinew. It's low-fat, low cholesterol, lean-muscle drama.

Nicola Hollinshead delivers Virginia Woolf in a way that VW's fans (both Guardian readers) will warm to, and the rest of the world will be able to laugh at with a clear concience. Nicola Hollinshead gives the character a grand dignity, and sly manipulative characteristics, combined with a sense of self-centredness that accord with one view of the real VW's character. But she injects a warmth, a humour, and a sharp perceptiveness of the changed reality of the modern world that create a very rounded, almost endearing presence. Nicola Hollinshead's VW is - one may speculate - a lot more fun to be with than the real one. She's certainly a lot prettier.

Victoria Johnston evokes Jenny as a 3-dimensional character with her own reality of success and failure, someone who fits into contemporary society but with reservations, and a dawning sense of where it may not be perfect. Her Jenny is cynical, but not cynical to the point of alienating affection for her. It's a fine piece of acting in particular because, within the play, VW is a well-known character, but Jenny is starting, in dramatic terms, from scratch. She's not a known commodity from life, and is written just a little a bit as a device to assist focus on VW. But Victoria Johnston is able to make Jenny real, and credible as her own person - startling and delightful creative acting.

The play makes a striking point about VW's living on into the present wherever feminism and literature are debated, giving the essence of this particular play a deeper meaning. VW enthusiasts will probably also pick out literary references - there may be some, or many, as the intelligence of the writing shines out from the play - but no knowledge of the real VW is needed to enjoy it as it is. And the costumes are superb (designer uncredited). The set of sofa and room interior works gorgeously. It's actually for another play on at the venue (Grand Slam, designer Ben Stones), adapted skilfully by the Virginia Woolf team.

Cast Credits: (alpha order): Nicola Hollinshead - Virginia Woolf. Victoria Johnston - Jenny / and / Beautician.

Company Credits: Writer - Paola Trimarco. Director - Steve Harris. Lighting Designer - uncredited. Sound Designer - uncredited. Costumer Designer - uncredited. Technical Operator - uncredited. Stage Manager - Jennifer Pearce. Producers (alpha order) - Nicola Hollinshead, Lynne O'Sullivan. Company - Turning Point Productions. Thanks to - Actors Temple (www.actorstemple.com); Players-Playwrights; Arts Development East, Cambridgeshire

END

John Park

reviewed Thursday 3 July 08 / King's Head Theatre

Fringe Report (c) Fringe Report 2002-2012

www.fringereport.com