Pennsylvania Avenue

Pennsylvania Avenue is less about script, and more about performer. Playwright Joanna Murray-Smith has, after all, written this one-woman show for Bernadette Robinson to play, and what a performer she is! Director Simon Phillips completes the Trinity with his return to MTC.

A contemplative tone pervades as Harper reminiscences on her retirement day after 40 years service in the East Wing of the White House. Her improbable impact on Presidents Kennedy, Johnson, Ford, Nixon, Carter, Reagan and Bush resemble a Forrest Gump influence.

Essentially the appeal of this work are the multiple vocal characterisations (or is it caricature?), of each distinctive vocal style and timbre. These include Barbra Streisand, Maria Callas, Bob Dylan, rather too much Marilyn Monroe, Aretha Franklin, Ella Fitzgerald, and Tammy Wynette. Re-read that list, add half-a-dozen others, and you can imagine how exceptional, fascinating, mesmerising, and amusing each chapter was.

Renditions of Don’t Rain On My Parade, I’ve Got Rhythm and Respect wrought thunderous applause and Robinson’s depiction of Bob Dylan was simply delicious. An impressive ensemble, positioned behind a semi-transparent curtain, drove and underwrote the songstress with aplomb. The curtain was punctuated with six small screens, within timber picture frames, that variously illustrated the monologue with images.

Murray-Smith is a formidable playwright, however at times the script bordered on self-indulgent. Such is the danger of leaning exclusively on a single perspective. For mine, it was rather too heavily weighted towards Marilyn Monroe early in the piece.

Pennsylvania Avenue runs for 90 minute without interval, and will be audio transcribed for visually impaired patrons on Tuesday 2 December (6.30pm) and Saturday 6 December (4.00pm).

A wonderful treat for those with long memories, who relish powerful singing.

Lucy Graham

Photogrpher: Jeff Busby