Written and
Directed by Shelley Wall
When: Now
until 15th December
Where:
King St Theatre, South Newtown
Reviewed by Lana Hilton
It
takes a lot for anyone to wrap their heads around Transgenders and the
difficult path they walk in order to become the person they always felt they
were inside. Into The Mirror explores
that process, focusing on the emotional and mental effects on the person and
those closest to them. Shelley Wall has written a piece that celebrates
self-acceptance and highlights the pressures of identity.
We
meet the main character Sally who has already made the decision to transition
and now refers to herself as Kendall. She has always had a strained
relationship with her daughter Melanie and when she finds out her ‘mum’ is off
to the US to have the final procedure in the process; it is more than she can
bear.
Alongside
the mother/daughter struggle we meet Tyler and Laura, a long-term lesbian
couple who have been drifting apart thanks to a secret child that Laura is
hiding from Tyler. Kendall and Tyler have a chance meeting and as sparks fly
Tyler questions her own sexuality, unaware that Kendall was born a woman.
This
play is a whirlpool of heavy themes which the actors take on and portray with
such conviction you find yourself questioning your own morale and perceptions.
You are constantly challenged when a new theme arises – homosexuality, transgender,
abortion, adoption and even rape. It is a lot to digest and you realise that
this is no science-fiction play, these themes apparent in today’s society only
they are not accepted or thought of as the norm.
This
is a very emotional production, be prepared to shed a few tears. Amber Robinson
who plays Melanie was brilliant in her portrayal and was the one I sympathised
with the most. She stole the scene and created a lot of the tension onstage
with her clarity, expression and performance.
On
the surface it can appear that transgender people are very selfish in turning
the world and their relationships with family, friends and work upside down
just so they feel comfortable in their own skin. It seems like a big sacrifice.
But really, no one will ‘get it’ unless they are in that position themselves
and THAT is what you take away from this production. Understand that you won’t
fully understand, or even accept, but as long as you don’t judge then you are
paving the way for progress.
This
play achieves that and I urge you to challenge yourself by seeing it. You won’t
be the same afterwards.
