The Testament Of Mary

The Testament Of Mary is a cheerless, emotionally demanding monologue centred on the world’s most iconic woman, Mary the mother of Jesus Christ. Mary has always been a loaded figure, contrived to propagate The Church’s impossible model of The Ideal Woman. Here Coln Toibin reimages Mary, brilliantly rendered by Pamela Rabe, throwing all prior assumptions under the proverbial bus.

Toibin’s narrative poetically speculates on Mary’s experience after the brutal crucifixion of her outlaw son. For 90 minutes Mary, dripping with grief, and twisted by regret and sorrow, gives her account of Jesus’ arrest and execution. It’s exhausting, as anyone who has sat beside long-term grief can attest. We’re anxious for her to get-over-it. We long for lightness. We are frozen. Trapped. Afraid to shift in our seats. Powerless to help.

Set Design is dominated by walls of windows, physically illustrating the transparency Mary must provide us. Soft semi-sheer curtains channel the uncertainty and instability of the world outside. Paired with superb Lighting Design, Mary is reflected back to herself. She is introverted, paranoid, lonely, and socially dislocated. Toulmin’s intense soundtrack is compelling, unsettling and chilling.

The Testament Of Mary will not be universally applauded. Some will be hindered by weighty theological or supernatural perspectives. Others will feel these are lacking. But these misgivings should be held back, because this is really a show about motherhood across time and place. All mothers will resonate with Mary’s sentiments at some level.

Lucy Graham

Image: Pia Johnson Photography