Where reality and fiction blur: this reimagining of Schiller's Mary Stuart questions male authority in writing women's conflict, reflected by a power struggle between its two actors.
Inexperienced American actor Pauline (Pauline Prévost) enters the realm of well-loved, if terrifying, Marie Colombe (Marie Colombe Lobrichon) to rehearse for a production of Schiller's Mary Stuart. With an absent director, a serious language barrier and casting confusion, this power struggles unfolds as a comedy before developing further still into a wonderfully dark gem of must-see theatre.
"The show flits playfully between Schiller's original dialogue and a wider discussion of ego, expectations of Elizabeth and her role as an often-cited "masculine" leader. "
There's a joy to how pacily the premise is set. Lobrichon and Prévost spar with strong comic instincts as their characters grapple with a huge culture clash. Their combative relationship is heightened by Adrien Rosé's camera angles, initially filming wide shots to afford a sly background reaction from Lobrichon as Prévost gushes about how she's been learning the script phonetically. It's catty, sharp-edged comedy which feels like it could land the two-hander within the realm of well-beloved double acts (I was half expecting one of them to brandish a blue blanket a la The Producers).
The camera angles tighten and tone shifts with a somewhat magical occurence (just go with it) transforms the actors into Elizabeth and Mary. Prévost's seeming lack of French turns into fluency. Lobrichon circles her prey, her previous spikiness sharpening to fine spikes as the beleaguered monarch. The show flits playfully between Schiller's original dialogue and a wider discussion of ego, expectations of Elizabeth and her role as an often-cited "masculine" leader.
Sean Hardy's direction smartly uses a rehearsal room to create claustrophobia between the actors, blurring the line between Lobrichon's theatre and Elizabeth's prisons. There's a sense of intrusion and entrapment for the viewer too, as the actors begin to address the camera directly. These moves tinge the play with a hint of thriller, and that unpredictable nature of tone makes this an incredibly intriguing watch.
Don't be scared by the fluent French, subtitles are available throughout.
Mary Stuart is available to watch on demand until 30th August, find out more and buy tickets here.