This sinister interpretation of Thérèse Raquin is a touring production of Critical Stages and the independent Melbourne based tour company Dirty Pretty Theatre. Both are award winning companies dedicated to making outstanding independent theatre accessible to all.

 

The novel Thérèse Raquin, written by Émile Zola was published in 1867 as a series for the journal L'Artiste and was first performed in 1873. Due to its notoriety as a scandalous example of naturalism, it has also been adapted into several film versions (1928, 1953) and even into an Opera.

 

The first act portrays Thérèse (played by Jessica Clarke) as an almost mute subservient character intent on pleasing her spoilt, and sickly husband Camille (André Jewson) and his domineering mother (Marta Kaczmarek) who is devoted to her spoiled constantly convalescing son. Laurent’s friends also abuse poor Thérèse after they move from provincial France to Paris to set up a haberdashery shop in the Passage du Pont Neuf. 

 

I was initially bemused by the choice of title of Thérèse Raquin as the character was merely a silent shadow of service to her domineering family. She was more of a malingerer, cool and aloof on the edge of the action on stage even whilst being belittled and bullied by her weak, abusive husband. Finally her character came to the fore in the second act in a rebellious and steamy tryst of passion with Laurent (James O’Connell) Camille’s best and oldest friend borne of a life of misery and servitude.

 

Soon Laurent convinces Thérèse to be complicit in the murder of Camille to help free her from her dank and fetid, sick husband. However, their regret is almost immediate and as the relationship rapidly sours between the lovers Laurent becomes her abuser, shocking the audience with his distaste and hatred for Thérèse and a now mute and crippled Madame Raquin caused by a stroke on discovering the true nature of her beloved son’s death. There was a further exhalation and a ripple of shock and disapproval from the audience as Laurent vehemently hurls the ‘C’ word at his former lover whilst blaming her for the murder of Camille. Just as Thérèse realises the magnitude of her dreadful mistake in trusting her misogynistic lover, the phantom of Camille returns to haunt them in their dreams and eventually in their waking life exacerbating the lover’s living nightmare of guilt and despair to culminate in a Romeo and Juliet escape.

 

The outstanding scene of an excellent play was when the body of the deceased Camille appeared to manifest in the marital bed, executed miraculously by a lithe and stealthy movement by André Jewson and creating an audible gasp of fear from the audience. Another scene which thrilled my goosebumps was the flawless way in which the ghost of Camille mimicked the reflection of Thérèse through the window as she walked across the room.

 

The fabulous costumes and blue dress of Thérèse were fitting of a scene from Outlander and the use of lighting and dry ice to enhance the drama with creative cut scenes intensified the suspense and horror of an already renowned and scandalous play. My only criticism is that a run of only two week nights was not long enough to satiate the lustful needs of the cultural Brisbanites.

by Dr Gemma Regan of The Witching Hour show 4ZZZ. 

 

  Thérèse Raquin is a French play originally performed in 1873 when it was converted from the serial novel first published in 1867. Set in 19^thcentury Paris, Thérèse is trapped in a loveless marriage to her sick cousin, Camille. Her life seems hopeless until she meets Laurent again, Thérèse and Camille’s childhood friend. The play is a thrilling psychological fiction that will leave you on the edge of your chair in anticipation. Critical Stages & Dirty Pretty Theatre’s adaptation was fantastic with a striking set and beautiful costumes. The exploration of the fascinating characters was superb and I would highly recommend to any who enjoy an exciting (and a little spooky) story.

 

By Jasmine Regan Feldman (4ZZZ youth subscriber)