Writer: Claire Storey
Directors: Claire Storey and Liz Marsh
This one-woman show focuses on modernist painter Hannah “Gluck” Gluckstein as she paints a commission piece for a young woman who is to be wed. Though she is there to paint, she keeps getting distracted as she drinks and recounts her life story. A wide range of topics is discussed. Ranging from her childhood to when she decides to go by ‘Gluck’ to her numerous romantic entanglements, Gluck is not shy about forcing this young woman to listen to her tale.
Claire Storey does a good job at showcasing a middle-aged woman whose impact on society is dimming. Once able to turn heads with her shocking physical appearance and suits, nowadays, the way modern girls dress leaves Gluck no longer a standout. There is humour in her delivery and in her stories.
One highlight of the show is when she puts paint on her upper lip to resemble a moustache and puts a paint rag on her head. Then she discusses how men have argued over how bad it is for women to give in to carnal desires for one another. Nothing comes from these talks, and Storey does a great job at mocking and poking fun at these discussions.
There is music that plays on and off during the production. At times, the music is a tad too loud and takes away from what Storey is saying. Also, it is a bit unclear if the music playing indicates a break in between painting sessions or if this is only the case occasionally.
The stage is set up to reflect an art studio. There is an easel with a painting, an assortment of paints, jars, and a chair with a suit coat, cane and hat to reflect one of her signature looks. Though Gluck is known as an artist, the discussions regarding her artworks only begin towards the end of the production when she recounts who likes her art and how she has been affected by an old lover. This is a defining relationship in her life, and the pain of the breakup is easily shown on Storey’s face.
Reviewed on 13 February 2026
