Writer Michael Frayn has reworked Russian playwright’s Anton Chekov’s first play, Wild Honey, into a gratifying comedy full of scandalous love triangles.
Wild Honey uses humour to tackle the sensitive subject that is infidelity in a playful, yet honest, way. Throughout the play, well-placed humour is juxtaposed with passionate, fiery dialogue. The original version of Wild Honey is performed as a sombre, Shakespearean-esque tragedy but Frayn’s adaptation injects a sense of light-heartedness into the whole affair. His thoughtful combination of humour and drama works surprisingly well.
This theatrical structure of opposites initiated the emotional rollercoaster that I was to experience while watching Wild Honey. One moment the audience was laughing at a well-timed quip, and the next moment our hearts were aching with sympathy for one of the characters as they delivered a wildly distressing monologue. These continual ups and downs kept me vicariously engaged throughout the performance and ensured that I never became complacent.
The actors’ ability to deliver their lines with such genuine emotion had the powerful effect of drawing me into the play. My allegiances to characters were constantly shifting as extra-marital relations and character development progressed throughout the play. However, there was always one person or another that I was cheering for to come out on top of this entertaining free-for-all. I am not ashamed to say that I was happily swept up in domestic intrigue of it all.
Behind all the jokes and antics of Wild Honey was a cautionary tale for the audience. The old adage “the heart wants what the heart wants” comes to life here and exemplifies the painful repercussions of acting in a selfish, lustful manner. At the end of the night, my inner self-preservationist actually enjoyed the wild emotional ride, and I left the theatre feeling entertained yet comforted by the play that I had just watched.
Wild Honey is a refreshingly cathartic experience that I would recommend to all.
Wild Honey
Until February 20
The Phoenix Theatre, UVic
phoenixtheatres.ca