The scenario to British playwright Laura Wade’s play COLDER THAN HERE sees middle aged matriarch Myra go in to overdrive after she is diagnosed with terminal bone cancer and given between six to eight months to live. She brings her family together, her husband and two daughters, to show them her PowerPoint presentation where she curates her own funeral. She narrates it in an amusing way still there is no doubting she is being earnest. Amongst her requests is to have a budget cardboard coffin, to be delivered to the home in a flatpack, and then to be painted with stars and sky by the family.She also request a woodland burial, where instead of being buried in a traditional cemetery, she wants to be buried in a picturesque, peaceful setting. Somewhere where she can truly rest in peace.
The action of Wade’s play, which runs straight through for ninety minutes, intersperses scenes played out within the family living room with those that take place as Myra tries out various woodland burial setting. These settings feature videos projected on to a back screen.
Whilst this is happening Alec is at home trying to repair the boiling unit in their damp home so that at least he can keep his wife warm in her final months.
The stagecraft of director Janine Watson and her creative team , set designer Michael Hankin, costume designer Genevieve Graham, lighting designer Morgan Moroney, composer and sound designer Jessica Dunn, dialect coach Lina Nicholls-Gidley, movement advisor Tim Dashwood and video designer Mark Bolotin, set up the world for the actors to work in. The cast stay deeply within it.
Hannah Waterman’s gives a fine performance as the feisty Myra, comfortable in her own skin, determined to make unusual choices.
Huw Higginson’s portrayal of‘ the pipe and slippers type father Alec is a poignant one. Alec loves nothing better to do than to read the newspaper and listen to his beloved classical music. As he admits himself says, ‘I don’t do problems well’. He is uncomfortable with his wife’s left field behaviour. Alec pointedly says to his wife, ‘isn’t the funeral supposed to be for us and not for you!
Charlotte Friels plays their elder daughter Harriett who is in a good relationship and seems assured. Harriett has a superior attitude over her sister Jennar who is given a warm, engaging portrayal by Airlie Dodds. Jennar is na troubled young woman, in a dysfunctional relationship, living in and out of the family home, but with a big heart and an abiding love for her mum.
This wasn’t comfortable theatre. It’s success will depend on how much audiences will want to engage with Myra’s journey to find peace as she comes ever closer tio the finishing line.
Laura Wade’s play COLDER THAN HERE, directed by Janine Watson, is playing the Ensemble Theatre, 98 McDougall Street, Kirribilli until 12th October 2024.
Production photography by Phil Erbacher
