Nineteen Gardens by Magdalena Miecznicka. Hampstead Theatre Downstairs, Eton Avenue, London NW3 to 09 December, 2023. 5*****: William Russell.
Nineteen Gardens by Magdalena Miecznicka. Hampstead Theatre Downstairs, Eton Avenue, London NW3 to 09 December, 2023.
5*****: William Russell.
Directed by Alice Hamilton and containing two pitch perfect performances from Olivia Le Anderson and David Sturzaker this hour long surreal story of those who have and those who have not in present day society is a damning judgement of those who govern us and the world they have created. Le Andersen is Ava a Pole married to an Englishman whose husband having left her works as a cleaner in hotels to keep body and soul and her childtogether. Sturzaker is John, the wealthy businessman and land owner with whom, when married, she had the affair that ended her marriage. They meet again. He would like to rekindle things. Although married himself he has a wife who has her own career. Ava sees a chance to better herself and tries to persuade him, to blackmail him in other words, to keep his promise to help her if ever she needed it – in other words to buy her a house to live in. The 19 gardens are the social distance in streets between his rich man’s mansion and the suburban villa she longs for.
The action takes place in a featureless box set with only a couple of chairs for them to use – we have to imagine where they are and what they see which gives the whole piece its surreal feeling and the action is beautifully orchestrated by director Hamilton. He goes along with her plan, but does not keep his promise. He has, of course, no intention of doing so. His wife knows about his affair so he cannot be blackmailed and does not care. She has also no intention of losing him. He is happy with his home life and, posh boy that he is, has no intention of spending money on his mistress although he would be happy to resume things on his terms. Sturzacker catches the essence of the Bullingdon Club type perfectly, while le Andersen is the epitome of all those immigrant chambermaids who labour unseen and who long to escape to something better. One not to miss.
Cast
Olivia Le Andersen – Ava.
David Sturzacker – John.
Creatives
Director – Alice Hamilton.
Designer & Costume Supervisor – Sarah Beaton.
Lighting Designer – Jamie Platt.
Sound Designer – Max Pappenheim.