I knew about Margaret Edson’s W;t before watching a stunning production of the play at Parramtta’s Riverside Theatres. Having tutored an English student who studied this text, I knew that Edson’s work integrated the 17th-century poetry of John Donne with modern-day conversations about the nature of death, women’s experiences in our patriarchal medical system, and the ultimate power of language to instil us with hope. However, it wasn’t until I saw the Riverside production that I felt like I properly understood this post-modern theatrical masterpiece.
First performed in 1995, W;t was written by American playwright Margaret Edson. Winner of the 1999 Pulitzer Prize for Drama, the play tells the story of English professor Vivian Bearing (Cheryl Ward) as she undergoes treatment for stage four ovarian cancer. Being 50 and at the prime of her life and academic career, Vivian graces the stage with fierce determination, passion for poetry and poetic techniques, and an overall wit that left audience members in stitches for many portions of the play. And yet, from the moment we are introduced to Vivian, we empathise with her struggle with her cancer diagnosis and a subsequent need to come to terms with the fact that she has just months to live.
Indeed, while grounded in wit, the play confronts us with the harsh realities of terminal illnesses. Throughout the play, Vivian takes us on her journey grappling with the unsympathetic medical system as well as the immense vulnerability and the balance between head and heart. As Vivian grapples with her illness and who she is as an individual we are forced to question: can we conquer death, or at least our fear of it, by the way we live our lives?
The Riverside production of W;t was directed by Helen Tonkin, who also starred as Professor E. M. Ashford, Vivian’s academic mentor. As Tonkin states, the core themes of W;t are ultimately universal and “will never date.”
“I saw a performance of W;t shortly after it won the Pulitzer Prize over 20 years ago. When asked to direct the play I returned to the script. Would it have dated? No, it will never date because it presents us with what we all eventually face – our own mortality and assessment of our lives and self-worth. Cancer treatment and Donne’s poetry are used by Margaret Edson to write a play about simplicity and kindness, and in Edson’s words ‘grace’.”
The production’s ability to eloquently “present us with what we all eventually face” was primarily achieved through the acting. The cast was exceptional, bringing immense emotions to their characters. From the upstart research fellow Dr. Jessica Posner (Kyra Belford-Thomas), the humble and caring nurse Sue Monahan (Hailey McQueen), and the wise Professor E. M. Ashford (Tonkin), each character presented us with a diverse perspective on human nature, granting something for every audience member to relate to. Cheryl Ward as the formidable and entirely witty Vivian Bearing deserves a special mention for her brilliant portrayal of the play’s protagonist.
The play’s stage design was simple yet extremely effective — the stage was complete for most of the production with a hospital bed, whiteboards to mimic the hospital walls, and a bedside table. Lighting was also used throughout the play to mimic the hospital setting with strobe lighting, for example, used to mirror Vivian’s countless X-rays. While the play included minimal music, sound devices were employed to further immerse the audience in the play’s medical setting — hospital ‘beeping sounds’ greeted us as we entered Riverside’s Lennox Theatre to immerse us in Vivian’s experience from the beginning.
As the audience of mostly grey-haired theatregoers exited the theatre — although it must be said that several young folks attended the performance, perhaps because the play graces the text list of English Advanced Module A — there was a sense of sadness yet catharsis. While the play showcased the devastating realities of terminal illness, it ultimately highlighted how ‘wit’ can instil a sense of determination in desperate times. In Tonkin’s words, W;t “may be a play about death but above all, it teaches us how to live.”
Margaret Edson’s W;t performed at Parramatta’s Riverside Theatres until March 9, 2024.
