In Cate Blanchett’s production of Joan Didion’s ‘The Year of Magical Thinking’ Robyn Nevin plays the famous American writer who over a brief time loses both her husband and soul-mate of 40 years, John Dunne, and her only daughter, Quintana. As the writer faces almost unbearable pain, she must also forego familiar, rational, logical ways of seeing the world, for what she knows as ‘magical thinking’.

This was an authentic, confronting night at the theatre. Didion sure picks her subject matter…writing herself through the most difficult period in her life when the people closest to her were cruelly taken away from her.

Didion’s words are uncompromising and evocative, and delivered in a personal style to the audience. She charts her journey nakedly- as her mind flexes this way and that- as she deals with what’s happened.

Nevin gave an assured performance and the playwright’s words are poetically delivered. Blanchett’s direction was concise….the play is delivered in a straight through ninety minutes. There were clear delineations between Didion’s explorations, specifically with Nick Schlieper’s incisive lighting design and a stark soundscape by Natasha Anderson. Designer Alice Babidge’s set worked effectivel with the set comprising rows of chairs as Nevin chose different vantage points to address the audience. Giorgio Armani ‘dressed’ Nevin.