In Eleanor, the personal is political, the historical is contemporary, and the struggle is eternal.
Ganymede Theatre Company’s Eleanor, written and directed by Agnes Perry-Robinson, with additional direction from Eve Hartley, masterfully chronicles the life of Eleanor – a female martyr involuntarily living in her father’s shadow. While tirelessly championing the rights of others, Eleanor, portrayed by Arlene McKay, grapples with personal turmoil inflicted by her manipulative lover, Edward (played by Columbus Mason). The play transports audiences to fin-de-siècle England, addressing issues of revolution, socialism, women’s agency and right to not only be heard but listened to, and the crippling and unforgiving power men hold over women that unfortunately remains starkly relevant for modern audiences today.
The cast’s close-knit camaraderie is reminiscent of Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women, which is complemented by convincing period costumes. Seamless scene transitions and the cast’s unwavering focus create the experience of peering into an old photograph witnessing late 1800s archetypes living their bewilderingly domestic, restricted, yet enchanting lives. While capturing this era’s essence, Eleanor does not shy away from darker themes of abuse, infidelity, and depression.
Eva Johnstone’s effective intimacy coordination lends tactile realism to both couples, Dollie and Ernest (sweet and wholesome), and the tantalising toxicity between Eleanor and Edward. Mason’s Edward exudes grotesque superiority, violently belittling Eleanor through cold, cruel gestures and smug expressions, treating the stage as his own throne room. Arlene McKay portrays Eleanor (nicknamed Tuffy) as headstrong, brave, and passionate – a social justice warrior, however also tragic in equal measures, foolishly in love with Edward. McKay, with her raw and show-stopping range enables the audience to feel the discomfort, suffocation, paranoia, and weight of carrying societal constraints of the era – when security often depended on male approval.
Eleanor also explores the impact of names and reputations, questioning whether ancestral legacy crushes or elevates individuals. Nelly Greig radiates as the caring, nurturing, grounded, and sensible Dollie, offering herself as a soothing soulmate poet to Eleanor.
In sum, Eleanor is a beautifully and poignantly written play that celebrates female friendship and rejects power-hungry structures that confirm mediocre men’s sensations. This narrative resonates particularly in our contemporary world, where issues of gender dynamics and power imbalances continue to persist, especially in the age of modern dating and relationships.