Well Behaved Women, Amy Yeo’s compelling new drama, is a finely crafted and thoroughly entertaining piece of theatre.
Set in 1883, against the eerie backdrop of a Victorian seance, the production explores the intertwined journeys of three young women — each navigating her own path to self-discovery and acceptance in the patriarchal world.
Hattie, rich, bold and impulsive, is involved in a clandestine lesbian love affair, and takes comfort in the rebellious pleasures of alcohol. Marianne, her ladies’ maid, harbours ambitions beyond her station, seeking a serious career as a writer. Meanwhile, Emma must contend with the harsh realities of racial discrimination as she searches for love in a society that refuses to see her as equal.
While Well Behaved Women may not be the most intellectually demanding production at this year’s Edinburgh Fringe, its emotional resonance and infectious feel-good energy, make it a standout.
All three leading ladies deliver spirited, heartfelt performances, breathing life into characters that, despite their 19th-century constraints, feel remarkably relevant and relatable today. Marianne’s closing monologue is a particular highlight. Her reflections on the terrible injustices faced by Victorian women unfold into a universal call for self-belief and resilience. Even the baby, sitting with his parents on the row in front of me, was completely captivated by her powerful oratory.
The most striking aspect of Well Behaved Women is its daring embrace of farce. Although the dialogue occasionally falls short of wit – at times feeling a little stilted — the physical comedy more than compensates, achieving a level of hilarity that borders on Shakespearean. Entrances and exits are timed to perfection, allowing for a rapid rotation of costumes and characters, that creates a thrilling sense of controlled chaos. Rather than confusing, the result is exhilarating.
The final slapstick brawl — complete with piggyback rides, pratfalls, and theatrical shrieking — is worth the price of admission alone.
Well Behaved Women is running at Gilded Balloon Patter House (bar 13th) until 25 August.
Buy tickets here.
Image provided to The Student by Amy Yeo.