Rebekah Smith
The gods demand a sacrifice, and a young girl will bleed for her nation.
In this coming-of-age retelling of Lady Jane Grey, inspired by the tragedy of Iphigenia, two young girls explore what it means to be a philosopher and a saint, and whether there is room in a sinful world for a woman to be either.
We view this story through a child’s eye – Jane Lumley. Jane is a young woman bursting with academic potential and curiosity, who greedily reads Ovid and Plato in both Latin and Greek. She shares her knowledge with visiting cousin, Jane Grey, who is equally zealous in her pursuit of Protestant piety. As they grow, so does their knowledge, and they soon face a world ill-designed for accomplished women, instead pre-determined for their marriage and servitude. Soon they outgrow their free exploration of faith and philosophy, finding themselves searching for their purpose in the world of men.
The play investigates the powers in place in 1500s England, and where it is that women should put their trust to survive and triumph. It is a story of sacrifice and deciding what must be saved – education and ethics or the soul. In a fight for purity, grace, independence and ego, what is stronger – Earth’s sins or heaven’s righteousness?
The star of the show is unquestionably Jenny Grober, who wrote and directed the piece, while also starring as narrator through the retelling as Jane Lumley, cousin to Jane Grey (played by Anne Whitaker). Grober’s is a highly engaging performance and projects a confident, precocious naivety which propels us through the tragedy. Grober and Whitaker offer a youthful bounce, innocence and liveliness in their portrayals of two best friends transitioning from girlhood to womanhood. Their spark and spirit adds to the tragedy, sitting pertinently against the backdrop of the growing national and religious unease of 16th century England.
Madeleine Joyce also shines in her role as Greek Chorus and the mothering characters of Clytemnestra and Frances Grey. Joyce brings solemnity and authority to the performance, underlining the dangerous presence of patriarchal and archaic forces that overshadow the girls’ dreams and leads them towards inevitable, inescapable malice. The cast is instantly gravitating, pulling us into the full sway of their emotions, hopes and desires.
The writing is elegant and expressive, perfectly embodying the lyricism of the poetry which influences and informs the narrative. Grober beautifully intertwines the symbolic imagery of classical epics and Old Testament allegories with repeating motifs of water, martyrdom and appeasing the gods. The movement, set and costume design is equally thought out. Ivory white linens reflect Greek marble statues and Delaroche’s painting The Execution of Lady Jane Grey.
This thoughtful production presents all the hallmarks of good old-fashioned theatre, while still injecting a youthful vivacity that captivates attention for its full hour run. With a carefully selected coming-of-age story embedded with tragedy, spirituality and joy, along with a dazzling script and energetic cast, /and her succeeds in transporting audiences to the 16th century with a play that delights, enraptures and impresses.
Drink recommendation: A dark, heady communion wine.
Performances of / and Her have now concluded at EdFringe 2024.
Jake Mace
