The Story of Mary Maclane by Herself

The story of Mary Maclane by Herself is playing at the SBW Stables Theatre in Darlinghust.

This is a production is quite unique it takes the story from Mary MacLane's first book which was all about herself.  It is not an autobiography of Mary's  life but more of snippets and the mood of Mary MacLane.  You are drawn in by her egotistical rambling but at the same time she doesn't really care if you take note or not.

You don't have to know who Mary MacLane was to enjoy the show.  In the early 1900's she shocked populace with her first memoirs. They were honest, abrupt and 100,000 copies were sold in the first month.  She was considered wild and uncontrolled, a reputation she nurtured, she was openly bisexual as well as a vocal feminist.
This play is written by Bojana Novakovic with Tim Rogers writing the music.  It was a perfect combination. The play opens in a very theatrical way almost like a Circus, "Ladies and gentlemen! Welcome!
Welcome to the 'Story of Mary MacLane by Herself', an event the likes of which you have never before happened upon! Literary sensation and columnist, writer and recluse, Mar MacLane is here with us tonight, appearing on stage of the very first time....."
All the time the double bass and violin are building the tension, it is very funny and put you in a good frame of mind to start the play.
Mary played by Bojana is captivating, you can't take your eyes off her. There are some great lines "I've given up alcohol as a means of trying to kill myself" and " Few things feel so cosmic as a cold boiled potato at midnight".  The portrayal is quite haunting with Mary's ramblings intertwined with songs and music.  Mary seems to have spent much of her life looking for fulfillment. She wants to marry the devil so conquer her, crush her, hurt her and consume her with love. She views herself as a liar and a gambler but overall you get the impression that she is overwhelming lonely, "kind, Devil, deliver me from Myself, of womankind and thirty one years, a philosopher, a liar, and a fool and unhappy and filled with hopeless despair.
Tim Rogers as well as writing the music plays the guitar and sings as a integral part of the show. As Tim and Bojana are both in the show you might think that it is self indulgent but it did not come across like that. The Stables Theatre was a perfect venue, it really made you feel part of the show, when they asked a question you wanted to answer. 
It is a production that will stay with you a while be prepared for 75 minutes of pure entertainment.