A heartfelt drama about the effect of cancer on loved ones
Suitable for ages 14+.
Lavender follows the relationship between Edie and Harvey, two young adults who seem to have a world of good things coming to them. Harvey has recently been made the owner of a bookstore, and surprises Edie with a pending trip to Australia. Edie manages to sell a house long deemed unsellable (due to someone having been found dead and rotting inside!). Their romantic bond, fuelled by banter, shepherd’s pie, and fiesty games of Uno, is put to the test when Harvey begins showing symptoms of, and is eventually diagnosed with, bowel cancer. Written and co-directed by Maisy Fuggle, the play provides an insight into the impacts of cancer on both the sufferer and those who love them.
Lavender is arguably a relatable play – many of us have either experienced cancer, or are close with someone who has. Even the initial experience of receiving a diagnosis causes one’s whole world to spin. Fuggle, portraying Edie, poignantly conveys the sense of devastation. We watch Edie go from sharp-tongued to lost for words, Fuggle’s body language becoming more tense and a quiver clouding her previously self-assured tone. Fuggle’s performance is commendable, resonating with those who have had to contend with losing loved ones.
Patryk Wachowiak plays Harvey with a boyish charm. Though he seems to overact towards the beginning of the play, this shows the ability of cancer to knock the wind out of a person. The contrast between the enthusiasm and exhaustion portrayed by Wachowiak is more pronounced, giving Lavender even more of an emotional weight.
Co-director Mya Agrawal portrays several roles in the play – all the small ones, as well as the part of Harvey’s longtime friend Talia. Agrawal uses different accents and hilarious facial expressions. Her stage presence is so much fun to see, and her performance is Talia is wonderfully sensitive.
Though cancer is a sensitive subject to write about, and Fuggle succeeds in accentuating the difficult moments, the script is infused with much-needed comedy. Just as we want to remember the funny, beautiful moments we shared with our loved ones – though they may have been in pain towards the end, they never lost their stubbornness during games of Uno! – Lavender shows that it is entirely possible to honour someone’s memory with humour and hope. Edie and Harvey are a very likeable couple, which makes Harvey’s death all the more tough, but also allows us to root for Edie’s healing. The two actors have great chemistry, and are exciting to watch.
The pacing of the play interested me greatly. The transition from one scene to the next is signified by a loud switching on and off of a light, while the three actors run to their correct places – all in the space of around two or three seconds. This may be considered startling or off-putting to some, the abrupt nature of the transitions contrasting with some of the more tender or emotional scenes. However, Fuggle may have done this to symbolise just how short life can be, fighting to capture as many moments as is possible in ninety minutes. Each actor works collaboratively to pull off each scene and transition, ensuring that Lavender is consistently watchable in a technical sense as well as a heartfelt one.