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A wonderfully crafted character that delights and dismays in equal measures.Summary
Rating
Good
Dressed in a shocking pink business suit, Rachel wants to be noticed. And Clara Courty-Zanca does everything necessary to really make sure that happens. Her performance is top class in drawing out all the nuances of her character in this one woman show. As obnoxious as Rachel is, Courty-Zanca still (almost) makes you want to root for her, to see her perhaps find the happiness she so clearly craves.
Of course, an actor needs great material to work with, and Francois Lockhart has provided just that, creating a brilliant character for Courty-Zanca to give body to. Her Rachel is full of confidence – perhaps overly so – in her abilities, cocksure that she is the perfect woman for her high powered job. Yet scratch beneath that pink suit and there are insecurities, especially when it comes to her relationships; with family, friends, and the men who try to be part of her life. Because when you are a high flying business woman you surely cannot show any weaknesses, any femininity?
There are plenty of great one liners that keep the audience amused, helped by Courty-Zanca’s comic timing; “I’ve always been quick to anger, slow to orgasm. I just wish it were the other way around” summing up nicely the imbalance in Rachel’s professional and personal lives.
Doubling up on directing duties, Lockhart also does wonderfully well in giving her performer everything she needs to bring Rachel gloriously to life. Monologues are separated by moments of physical performance, dance scenes that see her dance as if no one is watching, whilst her method of checking seats are the required two meters apart is a brilliantly executed moment.
And yet, even with a first-class performance and plenty of witty writing and directing, Rachel feels as if it is lacking a central core to bind it all together – something to give the play its purpose. Clearly we are meant to see Rachel as struggling to be everything we seem to demand of young women; successful, independent, driven and yet also feminine and demure. But while we can see that is the point being made, it’s not enough to make this play feel totally complete. As we go from one amusing scene to the next there’s a nagging doubt that is demanding some cohesion, something to tie it all in, other than simply knowing we are following Rachel’s days, weeks, months, even years.
Rachel is a thoroughly enjoyable character and Courty-Zanca’s performance means the play is a more than enjoyable watch. It just feels as if Lockhart has focused too much on creating her character and not quite enough (yet) on giving her a vehicle deserving of her presence. But there’s no doubt all the pieces are there, just waiting to be slotted together to create a fuller picture when Rachel can really flourish in the way she deserves.
Written and directed by: Francois Lockhart
Produced by: Roxane Bourges
Lighting design by: Ruth Harvey
Rachel has finished its current run.
