24 July - 2 August 1986, Free Theatre, The Arts Centre
Wanda Lust: the little known scientist who builds a fantastic machine, in which she sets out to explore the hidden landscape of a lover's imagination.
Endal Lust: petulant victim of Wanda's obsession - yet, bound by his own desire. (Is he as good at suicide as he claims to be?) Why is Arthur Fuch always waiting? Does Linda Body realise the danger she's in? What does Mister Knotter Benny keep in his leather trousers? Do Aida Strongman & Awsom Pals have so much in common? (Perhaps Monsieur Analole France knows all the answers. But he can only speak French.) The Mortal Pleasure of Wanda Lust is a theatrical cocktail - a heady mix consisting of equal parts of passion, murder, & intrigue; poured over crushed ice, & tasted whilst contemplating a deep blue sky. ReviewsI see no reason why it should ever be mounted again. Does this add up to a play? I'm not sure. The suicide machine itself, designed and constructed by Evan Webb, deserves special mention as a metaphorical and functional focus for the play. It whines, blinked and radiated its way well and truly into our imaginations, though in the manner of children and animals it soon became a dangerous distraction. |
The play itself was very comfortable to watch as it did not threaten or even challenge the audience in any way, and in that sense was a departure from Free Theatre's usual fare.... The 'Mortal Pleasure of Wanda Lust' enticing though it may sound - failed to satiate my theatrical appetite. Its intellectual conclusion escaped me, but that did not prevent it from impressing on my mind's eye a series of powerful images. I can make no sense of them, but they remain impressed. |