Wit was the first and only play written by American playwright, Margaret Edson, and it earned her a Pulitzer Prize for Drama, among numerous other awards. It has a rather sombre premise: Dr Vivian Bearing, a scholar of 17th century poetry, is in the final stages of terminal cancer and reviewing her life choices with regret. Chantelle Jameison, who plays Bearing’s doctor in the upcoming Clock & Spiel production, says the play is deeply moving but not all doom and gloom.
“The central character is very entertaining. Even though she’s dying from cancer, she’s also a show woman – she has spent her life lecturing,” explains Jameison. “It is written in such a dry, witty kind of way.”
Jameison’s character was originally written as male, but during early readings of the play, the performers and the director agreed that the young doctor worked better as a female, and so Dr Jason Posner became Dr Jessica Posner.
“Having a young male doctor looking after an older female – it felt like the difference between the genders actually muddied the story-telling from our perspective, because really Dr Posner is basically a surrogate stand in for a younger Vivian,” explains Jameison.
Thematically, the play examines the pursuit of intellectualism and ambition at the cost of human connection and emotional fulfilment. Dr Posner, although a medical doctor, studied with Dr Bearing (a doctor of literature) and was inspired by her drive and singular academic focus. It’s an ironic twist that Bearing, alone, dying, and remorseful is being treated by Dr Posner who is emulating that same stance of indifference that got Bearing here.
“You have a young doctor who is so wrapped up in the minutiae of cancer research, so involved in that and so ambitious to make a break through that she can’t see the human beings around her,” says Jameison.
The set is a simple, literal depiction of a hospital room with surreal elements that match the storytelling. It has a beautiful, moody soundscape.
“It’s such a fascinating play, it’s so incredibly complex and just an amazing piece of writing,” says Jameison. “Audiences will find it hard to walk out of there without giving some reflection to their own life.”
Oct 16-26. Seymour Centre, Cnr City Rd & Cleveland St, Chippendale. $48-$53+b.f. Tickets & Info: www.seymourcentre.com
By Rita Bratovich
