Woman in Mind (1985) is a searing tragedy whose many comic moments only highlight the plight of the central character. Susan (Jenna Russell) is a middle class, middle-aged vicar’s wife losing her mind. The reason doesn’t matter much. What we’re watching is a mind being taken over by dementia.
Her delusions take the form of re-enactions of the life she, at some level, wishes she’d had: a grand country home, maybe even an estate, a loving daughter (Flora Higgins), a dishy, caring husband (Marc Elliott), a dashing younger brother (Orlando James) and a glittering career in her own right.
What she actually has is an overbearing, boorish, boring, bossy, sexless husband (Nigel Lindsay in excellent form) and a small garden.
Russell finds a lot of eloquent silence as Susan gazing into the distance, desperately unhappy and barking cynical remarks at those around her – between her delusional episodes. It’s a challengingly meaty role and Russell is good at switching mood as suddenly she sees her other life or aspects of it. Her final scenes when, drenched by rain, she falls apart completely – and, in a bizarre muddled-mind sequence – conjures up entwined, distorted versions of both her lives are almost unbearably moving.
Matthew Cottle turns in a fine performance as Bill, the kindly but slightly dotty local doctor, who tries to help Susan but is out of his depth. And there’s lovely work from Stephanie Jacob as the lumpy sister-in-law galumphing round the stage and producing inedible food and undrinkable beverages.
IMAGE: Marc Elliott & Jenna Russell in Woman in Mind, Photo by Johan Persson
Review by Susan Elkin