Before every show at the Ensemble theatre, over the speakers, there is an acknowledgement of country, and then there is the announcement, ‘we hope that you enjoy your Ensemble experience’. Then it is showtime!
This latest experience was the Australian premiere production of leading contemporary American playwright Lauren Gunderson’s 2019 play THE HALF-LIFE OF MARIE.
Gunderson’s play is a two hander featuring two leading scientists. The show’s title is a scientific term which refers to what happens when certain elements interact with each other and they become more the other element than themselves.
The play starts after the news, the time period is the early 20th century, has broken in the media that the much loved scientist Curie, who recently had lost her husband, was having a passionate love affair with a married colleague. There was great public moral outrage that she could behave in such a way.
Curie was thrown in to a complete emotional tailspin, having been so used to the public’s adulation. She could no longer concentrate on her work, her raison de’tre.
She spends a lot of time with her close friend, British physicist Hertha Ayrton who can’t help but see her distress. Ayrton offers her some time out, to join her at her English homestead. Perhaps a long vacation, in a different country, will help her over over the crisis? Does she take up the offer, will it be transformative.
Gunderson’s play brings up lots of things to reflect on; the play is deeply feminist and explores the sexism, the lack of empowerment of women in society, and in particular the scientific world. This was a theme that the Ensemble recently explored in another American play , Anna Zigler’s 2008 play PHOTOGRAPH 51 about brilliant scientist Rosalind Franklin’s search to work out the final pieces to determine the structure of DNA whilst two of her male colleagues want the glory.
Some of the other themes explored include the great resources and comfort that close friendship can provide, and the lack of privacy that one has when living in the public eye.
Liesel Badorrek directs a good first Australian production. The designers creating the stage world were James Browne who designed the symbolic half-life set and period costumes, Verity Hampson lit the stage well, Daniel Herten provided the edgy soundscape, Cameron Smith the atmospheric videoscape.
The two actresses gave memorable performances. Rebecca Massey was dynamic as the play’s driving force, doing whatever she can to try and get Curie back on her feet again.
Gabrielle Scawthorn impressed in conveying Curie’s intellectual sharpness and her great vulnerability, convincingly showing a woman tottering on the edge.
Yes, I enjoyed this reflective, intense Ensemble experience.
Lauren Gunderson’s THE HALF LIFE OF MADAME CURIE is playing the Ensemble Theatre, Kirribilli until the 11th July, 2025.
http://www.ensembletheatre.com.au
