Review: INTER ALIA, Wyndham’s Theatre
Photo credit: Manuel Harlan
Following success at the National Theatre, Suzie Miller’s Inter Alia moves to the West End for a limited run at London’s Wyndham’s Theatre.
Inter Alia (meaning ‘among other things’) packs a lot into its single act. Shining a spotlight on Jessica Parks, a successful criminal Judge, convincingly played by Rosamund Pike, the play dissects a working parent’s constant juggle whilst ‘living in the cracks of everyone else’s life’.
There is a strong supporting cast with stand-out performances from Jamie Glover and Cormac McAlinden, but with much of the play a monologue, Jessica Parks (Pike) is front and centre, and Pike is an absolute force. Authentic in her role, she is entirely convincing as Judge and mother. Quick and constant, never leaving the stage, Pike doesn’t miss a beat as she provides a continuous commentary on her life. The delivery style takes a little while to adjust to, not least because the court scenes are played out like a rock show, highlighting the stark similarities between a courtroom and the stage, but all becomes clear as the style and pace further amplify the weight of Parks’ mental load and the constant pull of expectation from all directions.
The show starts as a snapshot of everyday life, light and jovial, yet slightly hectic, as Judge Parks narrates her thoughts and conversations, whilst navigating her competing priorities. The clever staging and lighting clearly highlight when Parks is in court and when she is at home, with numerous flashbacks providing some weighty foreshadowing. The writing is strong, with a balanced and thorough approach to some heavy topics, asking the audience to check their own moral compass throughout, as proceedings become somewhat darker.
Striving to be the best Judge, whilst challenging patriarchal stereotypes, and the best parent, whilst navigating external influences, Parks’ struggle to succeed in both tasks is palpable.
The play explores the role of women in the judiciary and points out a number of flaws in our legal system, but primarily analyses the choices parents make daily, and the impact of those decisions. Can children be kept safe from the dangers of the internet, from toxic masculinity, and ultimately from themselves? What happens when something goes wrong? Tapping into a mother’s fears, Inter Alia probes difficult questions. With the recent media spotlight on the ‘manosphere’, this play feels painfully current.
If Parks, who upholds the law daily, is struggling to navigate parenting, how are those of us not in that position meant to succeed? Parks is a female judge but the messaging is very relatable, translating to all parents and all work roles, to all those juggling daily, to all those just trying to do their best.
A devastatingly relevant snapshot of parenting, among other things, Inter Alia delivers some uncomfortable truths whilst asking ‘can we really have it all?’
***** Five Stars
Reviewed by Cara Brazier
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