Review: POOR CLARE, Orange Tree Theatre

Photo credit: Ellie Kurttz

There is something uplifting and exciting to visit a theatre that is bucking the trends as the wonderful Orange Tree Theatre in Richmond appears to be doing. Without Arts Council of England funding, Artistic Director Tom Littler is steering it on the challenging route to financial stability and creative excellence. It’s a joy to see small intimate venues that programme exciting new works, with strong production values that resonate in today’s society. It is a clever trick to pull off once, and even more clever to repeat it throughout each season.

Poor Clare, by American playwright Chiara Atik, makes its European premiere at this special venue with the audience on all four sides of the space . Director Blanche McIntyre makes sure that with the audience on all sides, the simple staging keeps being varied so we don’t spend too long looking at the back of the actors and ensuring the intimacy of the space adds to the audience experience.

It takes its inspiration in the characters and mediaeval costumes of 1212 when 18-year-old Clare meets Francis of Assisi. She commits to a life serving the poor by leaving her family palazzo to join him at the church in Porziuncola. However, its use of modern American contemporary vernacular connects directly to today’s audience. What’s more, its clever, witty, gossiping observations generate plenty of laughs while gently warming the audience to its underlying message about wealth redistribution to eliminate poverty. The modern take on the lifestyle they enjoy is epitomised in Clare’s observation that you need to “fake it until you make it“ and Beatrice’s desire to dress provocatively to “show people the lights are on and she is open for business”.

As Clare gives up her pampered lifestyle for servitude, the tone changes to a powerful direct challenge to the audience to consider their own lifestyle. It urges us to adopt a less passive acceptance of the status quo and to actively change our behaviours to direct action to reduce poverty. The stark contrast between the comic interchanges and this powerful message make the play all the more provocative and effective. Though how many of us will reflect on this and actually make such a dramatic choice as Clare did, perhaps instead opting for a middle route as you can be “rich and pious”?

Arsema Thomas makes an impressive professional stage debut as Clare, portraying the gradual eye-opening transformation from privileged daughter destined for an arranged marriage to a rich suitor, to the simplicity of a life in a nunnery dressed in sackcloth. It is a portrayal of intelligence, intensity and humanity as she establishes the headstrong motivation that gave up so much. Her relationship with her younger sister Beatrice (Anushka Chakravarti) is charmingly played with great comic skills in the bickering, pauses, looks and delivery between them.

The two gossipy servants, Alma and Peppa (Jacoba Williams and Liz Kettle), also have great charm as they plait hair, wash feet, move the furniture and draw attention to Francis’ (Freddy Carter) stunt of stripping naked in front of the Bishop, bringing him to the attention of Clare for the first time. He is portrayed as an earnest caring young man with a steely determination to change people’s lives. Francis, to some extent, sums up the dilemma that he and we, as a modern-day audience, feel when he states, “I don’t know what the answer is, but I know it is not this”.

Of course, at £56 a ticket and with the catchment area of Richmond to serve, that audience are the very people, for the most part, whose behaviour the play seeks to change. Philanthropy is an essential part of supporting venues like this and their outreach work with the young and old, and this current excellent work, to be followed with a cast of Charles Dance and Geraldine James in Creditors in September, deserves their support. There is a sense that the redistribution of wealth that Francis seeks would undermine this quality but it, at least, makes each of us think could we do more to engage and support those who need help. And that is what theatre should do.

***** Five stars

Reviewed by: Nick Wayne

Poor Clare plays at the Orange Tree Theatre until 9 August, with further info here.