Writers: Kirsty Smith and Kat Rose-Martin
Director: Chantell Walker
It is a truth universally acknowledged that a great work of 19th Century fiction must be in need of a spoof, and any of the Bronte sisters’ works might serve the purpose. However, this production by Buglight Theatre, which is currently touring Yorkshire, turns the spotlight on the gifted siblings rather than their literary output.
The world of the sisters, Charlotte, Emily and Anne, has been transformed from the Haworth parsonage to Bradford’s premier beauty salon, where the bickering, bantering creative trio are on the verge of literary superstardom. Romantic fiction has given way to slam poetry, blogging and television script-writing, as the sisters find more modern forms of expression, but consistent with their very different personalities.
One of the major obstacles to overcome is that little is commonly known about their personalities, except by extrapolation from their writing. So we end up with shorthand versions of their passions and politics, and thumbnail sketches of their characters: the bossy one, the passionate one, the political one. Such shortcuts are inevitable in a one hour three-hander that is also trying to crack a few gags about hairdressing.
More seriously, the play takes a “plus ca change” approach to a patriarchal society: the sisters are talented but impoverished single women in a male dominated world, using a cloak of anonymity to shield themselves from discrimination and trolling on social media. This protection is threatened by the Instagram revelations of Mrs Gaskell (AKA Lizzie G), and the sisters must decide whether, and how, to reveal and express their true selves, and collectively or individually, their identity as creative women.
This study of their sense of self is set against the everyday cut-and-blow dry bankrolling their creative pursuits, and given brilliant authenticity by Kevin Jenkins’ suburban salon set. Music and lighting changes break up the action. Unfortunately, these tend to distract rather than give dramatic emphasis; a more fluid approach might have kept the focus more on the three sisters. Stephanie Rutherford as Anne, Joelle Brabban as Emily, and Keeley Lane as Charlotte prove fully capable of driving the show forward without technical trickery.
There are a lot of ideas wuthering around in this short play, and the production seems too small to contain them all, or do them all justice. The basic premise is both ingenious and very funny, and the ethos of the story stays stubbornly, delightfully rooted in sight of Penistone Crag. Only if the Bronte sisters were waitresses at Betty’s could the play have a more authentic grounding. Three cheers to the Bronte Society for funding this latest exploration of the Haworth literary dynasty.
Tours until 7th April 2022
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