My Name is Rachel Corrie (skinnyfest 2)
| 14 Aug 2006
The image of Rachel Corrie is a potent one: a 23-year old young woman from Olympia, Washington, killed while trying to obstruct the path of an Israeli bulldozer in Gaza. Straight from its sell-out West End run, Alan Rickman and Katherine Viner's adaptation of her life, taken from her journal entries, deals with the nature of Rachel's character and tries to understand why she chose the path she did.
Rickman's production is emotionally gruelling but, for a play that has received such widespread plaudits, there is something strangely lacking. The first half hour tries too hard to explain Rachel's charitable but outlandish temperament and only creates a slightly confused reaction to her personality. However, Josephine Taylor's solo performance soon develops and, by the end, her stage presence is arresting. The harrowing nature of Rachel's situation is affectingly inescapable and, apart from the overdone speech at the end, inspires fitting humility.
Rickman's production is emotionally gruelling but, for a play that has received such widespread plaudits, there is something strangely lacking. The first half hour tries too hard to explain Rachel's charitable but outlandish temperament and only creates a slightly confused reaction to her personality. However, Josephine Taylor's solo performance soon develops and, by the end, her stage presence is arresting. The harrowing nature of Rachel's situation is affectingly inescapable and, apart from the overdone speech at the end, inspires fitting humility.
Pleasance Courtyard, until Aug 28 (not 21), 17.50, £13.50/£12.50 (£12/£11). Royal Court Theatre.