In the Next Room; or, The Vibrator Play

In the Next Room; or, The Vibrator Play
By Sarah Ruhl. Hobart Repertory Theatre Society. Playhouse Theatre, Hobart. Director: Steven Jones. 24 Oct. – 8 Nov, 2014

A play about the history of the vibrator is a fascinating, but perhaps risky, subject, or is my prudishness showing? In the Next Room; or, The Vibrator Play, written by Sarah Ruhl was presented by Hobart Repertory Theatre Society. The sexual subject matter was enhanced by the themes of love and misunderstanding between men and women, and gender, class and race inequality. The action coincides with the dawn of electricity and 1880s Victorian social environment. The new technology was being utilized by medical practitioners, lucratively, to treat so-called “hysteria”, which we now know to be lack of sexual satisfaction, in their women patients.

This cleverly written, well staged, beautifully acted and scintillating sex comedy looked good and was surprisingly un-shocking, despite orgasm simulations by two female and one male cast member. There was no nudity, and no graphic sex scenes, but priggishness must still prevail. The first night audience took a little while to relax and laugh-out-loud but when it did the cast relaxed into the play. Action moved along pleasingly under the skilful direction of Steven Jones. The charming set was divided between two rooms - a parlour and a doctor's office. At the play's climax, the actors step through the imaginary wall dividing the rooms to create the third and final scene, outdoors in the falling snow.

Quinn Griggs played the overly professional, uptight Dr Givings, happy to dispense sexual gratification to his patients via his vibrator invention, but withheld that from his wife. Hannah Just (Catherine Givings) looks like a doll and graces every stage I have ever seen her on. Kath Uziallo was Sabrina Daldry, a female patient whose boorish husband Roger Chevalier (Mr Daldry) had no understanding, or even interest in her sexual inclinations. Luke Leitch played Leo Irving the artist (also treated for “Hysteria”) with flair and sensitivity and not a trace of awkwardness. Anne Cordiner (Annie the nurse) and Blancy Otto (Elizabeth the wet nurse) were well cast. Sumptuous costumes by Nicolle Ottrey were a lovely feature. In the Next Room is about love and lack of communications – see it if you can.

Merlene Abbott 

Subscribe to our E-Newsletter, buy our latest print edition or find a Performing Arts book at Book Nook.