In the Next Room – or the vibrator play

In the Next Room boasts nominations for the 2010 Tony Award for Best Play and the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, but after a promising first act, its pedigree loses justification as the play degenerates into farcical melodrama.

Presented by: Melbourne Theatre CompanyVenue: Sumner Theatre Monday, 11 April, 2011
Prolific US writer Sarah Ruhl’s latest play comes to the MTC after a successful run in Sydney. In the Next Room boasts nominations for the 2010 Tony Award for Best Play and the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, but after a promising first act, its pedigree loses justification as the play degenerates into farcical melodrama.
Drawing on records of 19th century medical practises the play, set in the US at time of the invention of electricity, tells the story of a “rational man of science” Dr Givings (David Roberts) who has invented an electrically driven vibrator that he uses to treat “hysterical” women. The “paroxysm” these women experience helps to release the fluids that have purportedly built up in their wombs, and thus free them of malaise. Not surprisingly, his patients feel a lot better after treatment, and happily return every day for more. 
Juxtaposed with Dr Givings is Mrs Catherine Givings (Jacqueline McKenzie). High spirited, imaginative, but intensely lonely and intellectually frustrated, she has recently given birth to a daughter. Her distress at not being able to breast feed and the consequent need to engage a wet-nurse (who happens to be a women of colour), feeds a narrative that explores, amongst other things, women’s relationships with their bodies, motherhood, racism, same-sex attraction and the merits of science versus nature. 
This is all good stuff, worth talking about both in the 19th century and now. 
Catherine’s interactions with the patient Sabrina Daldry (Helen Thomson) and Mr Daldry (Marshall Napier), the wet nurse Elizabeth (Sara Zwangobani) and the superbly acted nurse assistant Annie (Mandy McElhinney), contribute to a lively first act that treads the fine balance between humour and intellectual enquiry. But when the character of Leo Irving (Josh McConville) arrives to be treated by Dr Givings at the beginning of Act II the play nose-dives. 
From the first mention of an anal probe, the writing plummets into the land of cliché and cheap laughs. And what could have been a very good play about women and sexuality is hi-jacked by the increasingly farcical relationship between Catherine and Irving. The play runs a good half hour too long; the tedium only relieved by an exquisitely tender moment in Act II between Sabrina Daldry and Annie that rings so true it hurts. 
In the Next Room is directed with flair by Pamela Rabe; the sets and costumes (Tracy Grant Lord) are beautiful; and Iain Grandage’s music and sound design is appropriate and unobtrusive. The cast all turn in fantastic performances, especially Jacqueline McKenzie who rarely gets to leave the stage through the more than two hours of drama. What a pity that this much touted play ultimately lets down the excellence and commitment of this production team and cast. Showing until 21 May, 2011For bookings and more information visit: mtc.com.au