The Year of Magical Thinking

‘The Year of Magical thinking’ is author Joan Didion’s memoir, produced by The Black Swan State Theatre Company. The hour and three quarter monologue is showing at the Dolphin Theatre, UWA, Nedlands each evening at 7.30 until 25^th February.

             The curtains open to reveal a late, middle-aged woman sitting on a wooden chair, placed on an island of sand surrounded by water. The lady is American writer Joan Didion (Helen Morse) who relates to us a period of her life. At a time when she was already under great personal pressure, she was making the evening meal in her New York flat, when tragedy visits her home.
             This story shows how this pedantic and demanding woman sets about dealing with, and coming to terms with, the situation.

This rich script is filled with allusion and quotes from literature and religion. For the whole 105 minutes, Morse held the audience in stunned silence as she, with minimal movement, but a hypnotic voice related the story. Only an actor of the highest calibre could tackle this play, but to do so with such brilliance takes someone of Helen Morse’s charisma and talent.

The set, make-up, and costume (Christina Smith) were designed with pale, extremely neutral colours, which were then tinted with numerous, very subtle light changes (Matt Scott). Iain Grandage’s appropriate background music, was softly and sensitively played on the cello. The music actually spoke, with delicate sound effects throughout.

Director Kate Cherry and associate director Paul English have given Perth a beautiful and satisfying production to remember for years to come.