Emotive, enrapturing, eloquent – Heather Alexander does it all
Becoming Maverick is a story like no other. Though inspired by Daphne du Maurier’s novel Rebecca (1938), I was immersed despite having no history with the book – in part to the wonderful script, and in part to the immensely talented Heather Alexander. This one woman show follows the life of a young woman who grew up in a home in the early 1900s, and her life as she learns to “do what she must”.
From the moment the audience step into the venue, Heather Alexander commandeers the stage when necessary, and lets it swallow her up during softer, vulnerable moments. From portraying a young, scared child, to a wild, ambitious woman, the audience was enraptured by Alexander’s every word. Despite some technical difficulties which threw off some of her performance, it wasn’t immediately obvious to the audience, highlighting Alexander’s professionalism and skill.
The only wish I had for the show was to do with the script: the plot twist in the last five or so minutes was incredible, though it felt jarring, unexpected. I would have liked the play to have been longer – an hour and a half, perhaps, to explore the consequences of this new twist, or to unpack it more – however it was constrained by the fifty minutes it had. Despite this, I found myself captivated by the show as a whole, a beautifully moving depiction of the effects that trauma can have on an individual throughout their life.
Overall, Becoming Maverick is a fantastically performed and written play, a true example of the talent and ability present at the Edinburgh Fringe. As well as giving me a new book to read, Heather Alexander is proof that actors can truly transform themselves into almost any character – keep an eye out for what she may do next: you won’t want to miss it.
(Becoming Maverick was an Edinburgh Fringe production between the 1st and 9th of August. More information here: https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/becoming-maverick.)