Review by Julie Duxbury

This delightful play shows just how much those who are determined to do anything can achieve. Most of the players in this play have physical disabilities and they show that they are just as capable of playing a role as any of us are.

Lady Eats Apple is a work that contemplates the changes in spiritual evolution and the restrictions society can place on relationships. In this challenging play, a new god and old god discuss what is new and what is about to become ‘extinct.’ The new god gives objects new names, while the old god withers and dies through lack of worshippers.

There follows an interlude where first hand, near death experiences are discussed and many people have provided their stories to the playwrights, allowing their innermost thoughts and beliefs to be included in a play that is more spiritual than anything around. The recounting of experiences is played in a completely dark theatre with no sound or view from outside. The audience is isolated with their thoughts as they listen to these moving spiritual experiences.

The play then continues but we are confronted by the attitude of an able-bodied and minded person who reflects modern society’s outlook on intellectual and physical handicaps. This portion is performed off-stage in the circle above the stage and whilst it is heart-wrenching, the audience is left trying to understand how this fits in with the earlier portion of the play. This part is an eye-opener to see how strongly the able-bodied person reacts and responds to their charges and the audience iss left thinking that perhaps a better method of communication could have been used.

At the end of the play, the actors return to the stage where the old god still lies collapsed, however, he has transformed into a patient with seizures and the players attempt to liaise with the ambulance personnel in bringing him back to life. To see such players act as a team to revive someone is an interesting view on the fact that even after arguments people will come together and help one another in an emergency situation.

At the end of the performance, it is still unclear as to whether they save the old god, but the fact that they all came together to at least try is a reflection on humanity as a whole and its belief that everyone should receive help where necessary.

Lady Eats Apple played in Perth as part of Perth International Arts Festival 2017