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I AM MY OWN WIFE
by Doug Wright
Directed by Moises Kaufman
at Duke of York’s Theatre
St. Martin’s Lane, London WC2
Call +44 0870 060 6623 Tickets £10 - £40
Mon – Sat 7.30pm; Thurs & Sat Mats 3pm
Running time 2 hours with intermission
Through 4 February 2006
Charlotte von Mahlsdorf lives
Transvestite Charlotte von Mahlsdorf’s experience of two of the world’s most repressive regimes, the 3rd Reich and the East German Communists, makes for an intriguing, self created identity and life. In a most affecting chronicle, recalled with acerbic accuracy, she stands, defiant, through times of mind numbing social and political extremes, eras now mercifully becoming chapters of European history. Her seldom portrayed view of these times gave the piece a platform from which to soar.
It must thus have come as something of a surprise for award winning playwright Doug Wright to discover that I Am My Own Wife, fresh from its Broadway triumph would fall into the divide separating the sisters Broadway and West End. If London audiences and critics appear to be less moved by this piece perhaps it is because, given the limitations of the play’s structure, depth and horizons, this winner of the Pulitzer prize is an unlikely one. The play betrays its Off Broadway and work-shopped origins.
The weight of material gathered by Mr. Wright about his subject revealed one of life’s characters - idiosyncratic and original, open to being dramatised and celebrated. But a carapace shrouds her. Casting himself, Sholom Aleichem-like, as one of his own characters, we are given, instead, the less-than-relevant processes of the writer himself, and we are peppered with a variety of minor players, realised with varying degrees of success by the lone actor, Jefferson Mays, wearing the costume of Charlotte von Mahlsdorf. The playwright appeared to be trespassing in his own creation, in spite of Mr Mays’ wittily self effacing portrayal of him. A play about making a play is not a play. At times it ran the risk of being a kind of: I Am My Own Subject.
Nevertheless, appetite whetted, as the characters were given depth in the second half, so the pulse quickened. But it was really only the life and times of the unique and fascinating Charlotte von Mahlsdorf that ever bothered me. Her portrayal by Jefferson Mays was a thing of beauty. With the subtlest hint of a world weary smile and a musically perfect vocal impression, a life’s experience and a character of powerful self knowledge and belief was apparent, with an actor breathing his part. This was the indelible Tony Award-winning performance, and a worthy Olivier nominee in the making. I could have done with so much more of her.
Lit with a caress by David Lander, with eye popping stage dressing by Derek McLane, and uncomplicated direction by Moises Kaufman, the offering brought out all the potential that the writing gave the production. The movie, and stardom for Mr. Mays can’t be far away.
Highly Recommended
Saul Reichlin
London correspondent
Chicago Stage Talk Radio Show
www.ChicagoCritic.com
November 12, 2005
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