Although many female performers have blown their one-woman shows out of the park this year, I am pleased to announce that Molly Windust takes the cake.
Windust’s one-woman show RockPools deals with a variety of topics people hate to talk about, such as hoarding, unhappy marriages and, most importantly, women’s health.
These topics are so taboo that even Windust’s protagonist is anxious to discuss them with us. Instead, being married to someone you dislike is described as having a dodgy mole on your back that hasn’t been removed yet, and having endometriosis is like having crabs (cysts) swimming around your ovaries like rockpools.
As for her hoarding problems, well, those are harder to keep under wraps with a quirky metaphor. Once an AMEX card is gifted to Windust’s protagonist with her husband’s dead parents’ money in it, we know it’s game over for her facade of sanity.
Very soon, the stage begins to fill with various objects—not actually though, because this production uses almost no props. Instead, we are relying solely on Windust’s words to turn an empty stage into a room full of antiques, fish tanks, sand, and stuffed baby seals (yes, her character’s hoarding was taken that far). Although you might be doubtful about how someone can make an empty stage feel overflowing with hoarder items, have faith in Windust. She’ll guide you through her vacant stage so vividly that you’ll even start to remember where each piled-up antique is placed, imaginarily.
Without leaving the stage once, Windust plays a multitude of characters, each with their own voice and quirky gestures. Her character-switching is delivered with such ease and conviction, you forget that Windust is only speaking to herself.
This show has yet to receive the credit it deserves. Windust’s ability to write such a beautifully complex play is one thing, but to then craft that story on stage and deliver it from memory is an entirely new level of impressive.
I would recommend RockPools to anyone keen to watch a play stripped bare of actors and props, making room for a story packed with real emotion, told with nothing but a folded chair, a handful of sand, and one actress’ words.
RockPools is playing until 30 August at Pleasance Bunker Three. Buy tickets here.
Image provided by Molly Windust as press material.
