Review: Psyche, Liszt Institute

Elizabeth Lonyay (Stella Abel), alias Psyche, is a free spirit wandering around Europe in the early 1800s. In this one hour, one woman play she describes some of her adventures and relationships. It is based on Psyche: Writings of an Erstwhile Poetess, a book by Hungarian Poet Sándor Weöres. I am not at all familiar with this work so cannot comment on how faithfully it translates or how well it adapts to the stage, only that the play is very entertaining.

Abel is excellent as the troubled, rebellious Psyche. She captures the vulnerability of a child and young woman whilst still displaying an inner core of steely stubbornness. We get a hint of this right from the opening phrases: “No one can leave me… by simply hiding in a coffin.” Describing events at various stages of her life – as a child, a teenager, a woman in her twenties – Psyche’s character is gradually revealed, along with the incidents that have shaped her temperament. Although tragic, she does not wallow in self-pity, but demonstrates how to overcome adversity in her own peculiar way. As in real life, there are times of humour, my favourite being her rendition of ‘Für Elise’ – classic.

Throughout the hour, we get glancing impressions of various men in her life ranging from sexual predators to milksops. This is very well done, giving the audience just enough detail to conjure up the individuals in our imagination. Some women are mentioned, notably her sister, but they do not feature too heavily, perhaps reflecting their position in society in that era. Eventually we get to László, a childhood friend. At this point there is a hint of regret at what might have been, accompanied by a chink of hope for the future, both of which could be reinforced just a bit more for an even stronger ending.

Although effective at portraying Psyche’s personality at the different ages, Abel’s delivery uses strange emphasis and inflection. This is a bit of a double edged sword. Although it gives the character a mysterious ‘other’ totally in keeping with her wild magnetic disposition, it also makes the monologue quite difficult to follow and I ended up missing a fair amount. There are also some phrases and poems in Hungarian which I had absolutely no clue about.

The small stage and minimal props are put to good use with Márk Tárnoki’s direction, ensuring the performance is not static. The bath and related accoutrements allow the opportunity for some ritualistic cleansing at appropriate points of the story. The hand washing put me in mind of Lady Macbeth – another strong but flawed female character.

Psyche is a relatable protagonist eliciting sympathy. Although fictional her plight highlights the challenges faced by women in Europe at the time and, as with all history, makes one consider how many are in similar situations still.

Directed by: Márk Tárnoki,
Produced by: The Broadcast Studios
Translated by: Dàvid Cseh

This show has finished its run in London and will be playing in New York City in June.