Catafalque, an intensely thought provoking one woman show at Summerhall seems to be my most challenging review to write yet. The show leaves one with so much to think about that giving it an adequately mulled over write up seems a near impossible situation.
The play seeks to explore, question and expose multiple themes surrounding death and grief. describing itself as a “eulogy to death” the set design is simple with a lectern and casket making the experience of the play similar in many ways to attending a funeral. This is apparent from the way the audience file out of the theatre, most leaving bleary eyed, myself in a state of sombre meditation. This play is certainly not for the faint hearted.
The overarching theme I hung onto was the way we as a society choose to celebrate death and the deceased, our insatiable need to lay one at rest peacefully and with respect even if said person committed ungodly acts in this life. Our need to let people go as if they were all martyrs, as the play points out, is perhaps hindering our grieving process; “we do not speak ill of the dead.”
Through the unique perspective of a Civil celebrant, Fern (an atheist funeral officiant), we are guided through her perspectives on the deceased’s final send off and how one grieves.
Amy Conway’s writing and performance are devastating and completely unique. As she stands in her off-white suit, her second person monologue directly immerses the audience into her characters tale of violence and assault.
The story of a man she must direct the funeral of, Martin, begins to unravel. Linking to her own experience of assault, we begin to discover not only how she must grieve in her place of work but in her everyday life to put her own trauma behind her.
The scenes are broken up with short movement sequences which seemed to me slightly unnecessary and made her pain a little too obvious.
The complexity of death and grief is what brings this play to its climax with a moment that will leave your hairs on end and shake you to your core , the figure design of Gary Cameron will leave you with a snapshot of a moment that will be hard to forget.
Catafalque is deeply thought provoking, intensely original and forces us to confront gut wrenching topics.
Images by Andy Catlin, provided to The Student as press material