Saw Edge. Mixed feelings. I think Angelica Torn did a great job, vocally and physically embodying Sylvia Plath but the script was a bit hysterical and over the top.
It was very tough on Ted Hughes - a far from perfect individual...but the play was heavy handed in its portrayal of him. They both treated each other badly and yes, Hughes had an affair, but I don't believe he killed Plath. I think she was on that trajectory for a number of years. I guess I was looking for more balance, more poetry.
In the last week of Plath's life, she had a terrible cold so when Angelica came on stage, bleary eyed, puffy and sniffling, I thought wow, she's really getting into this role...turns out she had a bad cold. Oops.
She also had to put up with two very large blow flies circling the stage. Every now and then, one would land on her arm or head. She read her lines flawlessly while waving her arm around or wildly batting at the fly! I was in the front row and it became a bit distracting...
But in the end, I'm glad I saw it. I know when some people hear her name they think, yawn...crazy woman who put her head in the oven...but there's so much more to her as a poet, woman, mother, wife and lover.
There are reasons why history refuses to let her go.
Friday, February 24, 2006
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Some Books I've Really Enjoyed
- Apples For Jam by Tessa Kiros
- Saturday by Ian McEwan
- Philip Larkin: A Writer's Life by Andrew Motion
- The Bell Jar by Syliva Plath
- Ex Libris by Anne Fadiman
- Stasiland by Anna Funder
4 comments:
You are absolutely right, she is without question, a voice, a powerful, depth defying voice.
Agree with your thoughts on Plath. It's great to find another blogger who enjoys poetry. And Larkin too ( see my 'Buttons" post?).
Like your blog and have bookmarked you. Thankyou for your commenton my blog too.
Thankyou for your comment on my blog.
Best wishes from WA
You've inspired me to search the bookshelf for The Belljar & Arial for a re-visit. I cant believe I gave Ariel to my partner for his birthday when I first met him!! How pretentious, very uni-student and unknowing, especially now after nearly 10 years he reads thrillers and blockbusters!!
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