REVIEW

MARY ANNING - LOST IN TIME

Weymouth Pavilion

There is nothing fossilised in this story about Victorian Dorset’s country girl Mary Anning, who changed scientific understanding of prehistory, not to mention our knowledge of the world’s geology.

AsOne theatre company present a cast of three actors under the direction of Marta Vella, who take on the challenging task of dramatising the life of Lyme Regis’s most famous female in this stimulating play by Peter John Cooper, which examines her thoughts and feelings during her dying days.

The spirited Mary is played with passion by Jane McKell, who beautifully portrays the working class woman and seeker of truth who never lets her suffering get in the way of her reflections of her life’s work.

On the receiving end of Mary’s thoughts, Jessica Porter portrays her friend and carer, Susan, who nicely keeps the occasional tantrums under control as injustices and achievements are aired by the bedridden Mary on a set that changes before our eyes as the days go by.

Playing multiple roles is the lively Eltjo De Vries who comes and goes with amazing speed as either Mary’s doctor, her friend Henry or the King of Saxony who would seem to be a figment of her imagination.

The production will be appearing at Sturminster Exchange on Saturday, Marine Theatre Lyme on Wednesday 6th October and Sunninghill School Dorchester on Saturday 9th October.

For an evening that is perceptive, thought provoking and always entertaining, it provides excellent value for money.