Review: THE TESTAMENT OF MARY Gives Voice To One Of The World's Most Famous Mothers

Wednesday 18th January 2017, 8pm, Wharf 1 Theatre Walsh Bay

Opening Sydney Theatre Company's 2017 program, Colm Tóibín's THE TESTAMENT OF MARY is a captivating alternative view of one of history's most iconic stories. Pairing award winning actor Alison Whyte with Sydney Theatre Company's new resident director Imara Savage, a mother's voice, filled with passion, love, grief, anger and regret, is finally heard.

Sydney Theatre Company's resident Designer, Elizabeth Gadsby has created an imposing space for Mary of Nazareth's story to unfold. The thrust stage of Wharf 1 theatre is transformed into cordoned off black marble clad chapel to The Virgin Mary, similar to those that boarder the high altars of grand cathedrals. An empty alcove greets the audience before the lights drop and a 'statue' of Mary, clad in the accoutrements society has become conditioned to associate with the Mother of Jesus occupies the space, now lined with candles.

Savage follows Tóibín's lead in stripping away society's image of Mary as a serene but silent maternal figure clad in sumptuous robes, nurturing a lamb and bearing her heart to expose a normal woman, recounting her memories of the life and death of her son. Paired with Emma Valente's dramatic lighting and Max Lyandvert's evolving sound design, Whyte expresses Mary's recollections with emotion and realism that gives the mother an honesty and voice that one would expect of a parent remembering the events that caused concern, anguish, and fear for her only child, and ultimately, the trauma of witnessing his tortured death before herself being forced into exile. Whyte's portrayal through the 80 minute monologue has texture and depth, ensuring that there is variety in tone, pace and expression. Savage utilises the space well, having Whyte talk directly to the audience from the velvet ropes with passionate directness, occupying the lone chair with restlessness and the marble pedestal with a broken resignation. Whyte expresses Mary's emotional damage and pent up anger sustained from seeing her son tortured and being powerless to comfort him, to even stay in his final moments.

This is an intriguing and powerful expression of a side of a well-known story that many probably haven't really considered. Regardless of the viewer's religion, there is a high probability that they will have at least some familiarity with the story of Jesus Christ, particularly in a society that used to be based on Catholicism so this work can still connect to non-Catholic audiences with a degree of familiarity along with the universal understanding of a mother's love, compassion, fear and anger at the loss of a loved one. With a contemporary relatability to political prisoners, torture techniques and Mary's need to become a refugee because of the authorities intent to persecute her for her son's beliefs, Savage ensures Tóibín's work speaks to the audience on a variety of levels.

For those that appreciate women being given a voice and exploring other sides to stories, THE TESTAMENT OF MARY will satisfy as the previously unheard from mother is finally given a chance to share her story. A thought provoking piece that is easy to follow, this is a beautifully expressed opener for Sydney Theatre Company's 2017 season.

THE TESTAMENT OF MARY

13 January - 25th February 2017

Photos: Lisa Tomasetti