Wit

This play uses the poetry of John Donne, a nod towards Shakespeare, beautiful music, a spare set, a dynamic soundscape and masterful acting to explore the journey towards death. At the beginning of the play Professor Vivian Bearing (Jane Montgomery Griffiths) announces she has stage four metastatic ovarian cancer and is very likely to die. She reflects on the contribution her teacher, Professor E. M. Ashford (Helen Morse) made to her intellectual life and her efforts to pass on something similar to her students.  Her journey is surrounded by the indignities of treatment, the obsession of the treating physician (Rhys McConnochie) with gathering research data and the kindness of a nurse (Jing-Xuan Chan). The first indignity is delivered by Dr Jason Posner (Mick Lo Monaco), a former student who performs an agonisingly long pelvic examination.  

Professor Vivian Bearing moves between witty, self-aware, reflective commentary and naturalistic representation of the physical indignities of approaching death. The play does rest a little heavily on the stereotypes of driven arrogant male doctors and caring female nurses and an outdated understanding of the management of the side effects of cancer treatment and pain. This is more than balanced by a glorious approach to language and a thoughtful approach to the biggest question of all – how can death be approached with courage?

Ruth Richter

Credits

Directed by Ben Pfeiffer

Set design by Jeminah Alli Reidy

Lighting by Robin Thomas

Sound design by Adam Casey

Music design by Cameron Thomas

Stage Management by Ursula Searle

Images: Jane Montgomery Griffiths, & Jane Montgomery Griffiths and Jing Xuan Chan/ Photographer: Lachlan Woods.