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Camden Fringe
A wonderfully executed solo show that takes us deep into the life of an 18th century woman who was an influencer centuries before that word even meant anything!Summary
Rating
Excellent
A voiceover at the beginning of Lady Montagu Unveiled informs us that the following show is “loosely based” on real events, “so as not to get sued in the same way as Baby Reindeer.” It sets the whole tone of what is to follow – a retelling of the remarkable life of Lady Mary Wortley Montagu that is faithful in the general facts, but clearly takes a few amusing liberties elsewhere. The result is a show that is as fascinating as it is funny, and one that leaves us in no doubt about the admiration we should have for this woman.
It’s obvious just how much fun writer and performer Thesy Surface is having as she parades around the stage in her 18th century attire, as well as heading regularly into the audience at The Courtyard Theatre to keep us on our toes. Her enjoyment is infectious, much like the smallpox that we discover Lady Montagu had more than a small hand in helping to eradicate. And that’s not all we learn in this whirlwind show, as Surface takes us on a whistle-stop tour of Montagu’s incredible life; her travels, her writings and her loves.
Surface is simply a delight to watch, especially when at her most playful. As the elderly Lady Montagu, hunched over her walking stick, she narrates her own story, delivering it with a cheeky little glint in her eye as if at any moment she is going to say something wholly inappropriate. You do get the feeling that the real life Lady Montagu would have been enjoying herself just as much.
Unlike for so many other notable women throughout history, the numerous letters by Lady Montagu throughout her life were saved, giving Surface plenty of material to work with in creating the story. There’s certainly a lot to try to cram in, which does at times mean things feel a little rushed, with no time to breathe between scenes. But with a life that seems to have been filled with so much of interest, you can forgive that.
There are moments where you do wish for a little pause, if only to allow us to step from one time to the next, or allow her to return to the narrator to move us on more smoothly. An alternative choice to introduce chapters via voiceover might allow this, giving Surface a chance to recompose herself for the next scene, as well as possibly allow even more playfulness in how each scene is introduced. An early scene transition where Surface calls for her sound engineer to “hit it, drop that beat” before launching into dance is an absolute delight, and whilst it wouldn’t work for each changeover, the technique could be utilised further to give us a clearer divide between the many different parts of her life.
Given that Lady Montagu is portrayed as an “influencer” and It Girl, it’s no surprise that Surface and director Julia Sopher have woven in a very modern touch throughout. References are dropped that bring us into a modern arena, with Prince Harry’s autobiography being a regular target, alongside her insistence that she is being “trolled” by Alexander Pope. Then there is the use of modern technology, as smartphones spring up regularly, including a call for a selfie whilst at court. This mix of traditional 18th and modern 21st centuries is well handled, never feeling at all out of place, but rather making the story even more accessible.
Lady Montagu Unveiled is a delight, offering both a fascinating retelling of an incredible woman’s life as well as the joy of watching a fine actor clearly having a blast in what she’s doing.
Written by: Thesy Surface
Directed by: Julia Sopher
Tech by: Faye Knight
Lady Montagu Unveiled has completed its run at Camden Fringe.
