Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?

As presented by Darlington Theatre Players, Edward Albee’s modern theatrical classicWho's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? is a tight, emotionally charged incarnation of this game-changer Tony Award winning play.

Middle aged couple Martha and George have a deteriorating relationship and play emotional games. They draw a visiting couple, new colleague Nick and his wife Honey, into their emotional vortex,

Highly charged performances and excellent teamwork throughout. Alida Chaney as Martha and Richard Hadler as George create a believable long term, crumbling relationship, with complex, tangible characters. Impactful, layered performances from both, that must leave the actors exhausted.

Cameron Leese is strong as handsome Biology Professor Nick, a performance with intensity and colour. He is nicely paired with Krysia Wiecheki as his frail wife Honey, another performance that went beyond the expected.

George Boyd’s set design is highly realistic, with furnishings that plant us in 1960, and gives the audience a solid foundation for the show. Marjorie De Caux gives us era-appropriate fashions with excellent character modifications. Hair-styling and wig-work by Lynda Stubbs brings further detail - especially Honey’s blonde Marlo Thomas flip. Greg Rusha’s sound-design is simple and appropriate. Michael Hart’s lighting is highly realistic and well-managed. 

While one can hardly say that they have enjoyed Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, it is a solid, very effective production that had the audience very engaged and invested. Well worth a look, especially if you have not yet experienced this highlight of the modern theatre canon.

Kimberley Shaw

Images: Verge Studio Photography.