Theatre lovers are in for a theatrical treat as the start to the Cape Town run of the multiple award-winning “My Name Is Lucy Barton” kicked off at the Baxter Theatre this week.
Following its premiere at the Hilton Arts Festival, to rapturous responses, the production will be presented from September 19 to October 5.
“My Name Is Lucy Barton” is written by Elizabeth Strout and adapted by Rona Munro. It is the story of a writer reckoning with the legacy of a scarred family life and who is coming to terms with the cost of her childhood and the rewards of her art.
“My Name Is Lucy Barton” was adapted for the stage as a one-woman show by acclaimed TV, film and theatre writer Rona Munro. It is a story for anyone who has questioned how family defines oneself. It is a powerful narrative of hope and triumph, about a woman who finds her truth and reclaims her story.
The production stars multiple award-nominated actor Julie-Anne McDowell and is directed by multiple-award winning Charmaine Weir-Smith.
McDowell told Weekend Argus: “’My Name is Lucy Barton’ is a triumphant story about a woman who overcomes a difficult childhood to find herself. I think it's a story that we can all relate to because many of us have gone through difficult moments in our life.
“What I love so much about Lucy is that she manages to find the silver linings in these moments, and use them to propel herself forward and make a better life for herself. I find her really inspiring, and I've learnt a lot from Lucy because of that.
“The play is based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel but this is a theatrical presentation of the story. It’s a very exciting, moving story – audiences will go on a roller-coaster journey and, I think, will experience a myriad emotions and leave feeling hopeful and inspired.”
Lucy Barton wakes after an operation to discover, much to her surprise, her estranged mother at the foot of her bed. Over the course of her mother’s visit, she and Lucy seem to reconnect, but just below the surface lies the tension and longing that have informed every aspect of Lucy’s life.
Lucy’s encounter with her mother brings into sharp focus her troubled childhood in rural Illinois and her current life in New York City. Knitting the powerful memories together, Lucy begins to come to terms with her past and her future as a writer.
“My Name is Lucy Barton” is a powerful narrative of hope and triumph about a woman who finds her truth and reclaims her story.
Tickets cost from R200 to R250 and are available via Webtickets.
Weekend Argus