Fortrose Community Theatre, 15 November 2006

Edie Campbell in 'Emily Dickinson & I'

JACK LYNCH and Edie Campbell’s devised work explores the question of “when is a biographical portrayal not autobiographical?”. Sub-titled ‘The Journey Of A Portrayal’, it presented a deeply personal view of the nineteenth century American poet and her work which lost none of it’s beauty or potency on stage.

It was a disappointingly small audience of 10 that experienced this engaging production worthy of far greater local attention. Edie Campbell’s one woman show represents a compelling merger between actress and writer, fact and fiction, and notions of truth and myth.

Dickinson’s poetry and letters, historical fact and mythic speculation are intertwined with the actresses own life and her creative journey to “become” her favourite poet through bringing her own play to the stage.

It is a production that operates on many levels but what spoke to me overwhelmingly were the words of the poet herself and the way in which they resonate life through art once again in performance.

The production also compels me to revisit the original source material and reread Dickinson’s sublime poetry. As a literary figure Dickinson remains enigmatic, but by the end of the play we feel we have reached an understanding of another human story, that of the actress bringing her life to the stage.

Campbell’s performance is excellent, and sustained throughout, and the writing is a highly original way of exploring a complex subject. The actress is self-conscious of not “getting in the way” of Emily Dickinson’s words.

The figure of the reclusive poet and the actress on stage are both alone in their art. That the life and work of another creative human being can obsess us and even reflect our own struggle is one of the great values of creative expression. Here Dickinson’s writings act as a mirror for a character playing herself, defined by the truth of her own personal history.

It is interesting to note that LynchPin Productions Theatre Company have also devised another one woman play based on the “relationship between author and reader”. “Cloning Mary” centres on the life and work of Mary Shelley, author of “Frankenstein”.

Director Jack Lynch describes this fascination: “If one is drawn (or repelled) by an artist’s work what does that say about the viewer?”

Previously performed at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, numerous literary festivals in the UK, in America, Canada, the Netherlands and Switzerland, I am not sure why “Emily Dickinson & I” failed to attract a more significant number in the audience.

Knowing the American poet’s work certainly provoked my own interest, and perhaps programming it as part of their recent Book Festival would have ensured a larger and naturally appreciative audience.

Eden Court could also have distributed tickets to local High School or drama students, rather than leaving empty seats. I’m sure these audiences would have found “Emily Dickinson & I” a thought provoking production worthy of further exploration and discussion.

© Georgina Coburn, 2006

Links

• LynchPin Productions Theatre Company