Memmie Le Blanc

‘Memmie Le Blanc’ written by Hilary Bell and directed by Angela Chaplin, has its World Premier run in Fremantle. It is presented each evening at 8.00, by Deckchair Theatre and Vitalstatistix until 2^nd December.

Described as ‘wild and untamed’, this play is based on the true 18^th Century tale of a feral 9-year-old child, found naked in a French forest. She is mute and, unlike many other feral children, has survived alone by killing animals and eating their raw flesh. Memmie was a little like Mowgli and could mimic the birds and animals.

Widow Catherine Michel (Netta Yashchin) has heard of this ‘animal’ living in the woods, and how previous attempts to care for and domesticate her have failed. She finds the child and takes her home. Out of kindness and consideration, Memmie (Anni Lindner) is locked up in the house, not even being allowed into the garden.

5 years later a doctor (Adam McGurk), who claims that he has made studies of many untamed children, arrives at the house in order to carry out research. He brings with him uncultivated Robert, who thinks that he is an orang-utan (Sete Tele – great performance, filled with energy). However, is this research the doctor’s sole reason for calling or does he have dubious intentions?

The set (Andrew Lake) is quite contemporary, as though borrowed from Cirque du Soleil. At first I thought it incongruous, but it was very practical and versatile. With Andrew’s excellent lighting and subtle control, the overall effect was satisfying.
The costumes (Isaac Lummis) were well designed, and had a ‘same pattern’ theme running through the material of all the outfits (for continuity?) When Memmie was found, she was immaculate, no dirt on her face, clean shift and yet supposedly living rough – a suggestion of rough living would have been nice.

There were several situations where the play turned, in Dennis Potter style, to singing and dancing. The main characters mimed almost in sync with the words, or in the case of Madame Michel, whistled with Ronnie Ronalde’s bird impersonations. The movement and dancing was performed well, but the overall desired magical effect was somewhat missing.
The few French sentences of dialogue had abysmal pronunciation.
The astounding acting of Anni Lindner, with every facial muscle being employed, the many body twitches, clearly conveyed Memmie’s stress and total nervous despair. Anni carried the show and the thin script.
A veritable Curate’s Egg.