Vita and Virginia
Written by Eileen Atkins, directed by Richard Cottrell
With Ruth Cracknell and Jennifer Hagan
Sydney Theatre Company
The Playhouse, Sydney Opera House from July 26
Vita Sackville-West and Virginia Woolf, two of England's most intriguing women, had an intimate and loving friendship. They are both famous and inspiring women, Woolf for her brilliant writing and Sackville-West for her unconventional life. As with many of Woolf's friends, they shared a love of writing and their friendship developed through their correspondence. Vita and Virginia has been adapted from their letters.
Woolf was plagued with mental illness her whole life, suffering her first mental breakdown at 13, when her mother died. Her illness meant that she spent much of her time in her room resting. The threat of her madness returning was very frightening, though she was well supported by her husband, writer Leonard Woolf. It was the thought of another impending bout of "horrible voices" that led to her suicide in 1941.
Woolf's writing is highly reflective of her experiences. When her mother died from "overwork", Woolf's step-sister, Stella, bore the burden of looking after the house and rearing the children. Woolf's thoughts on male dominance and female oppression arose from these experiences. She is one of the key feminist writers of this century.
Her circle of friends, known as the Bloomsbury Group, included many significant minds of the early 1900s. Their intellectual discussions covered art, literature, philosophy, politics and religion.
A subject that was very important to Woolf was the education of women. Woolf's father encouraged her to read all the books in his library during her childhood. However, unlike her brothers, she was denied a formal education. Woolf had a class analysis of society and saw that the abolition of classes was important. As a writer, however, she did not feel able to change society.
Vita Sackville-West was a more popular writer than Woolf at the time, but her fame now lies with her lifestyle and friends. Her ancestry was aristocratic, a fact which allowed her much freedom. However, being a woman she was denied the inheritance of the family estate, "Knole", which she loved.
Nigel Nicholson's book Portrait of a Marriage details Sackville-West's marriage to diplomat Harold Nicholson and her affair with a childhood friend, Violet Trefusis. While their marriage was on the whole happy, it was more like an intense friendship — Nicholson and Sackville-West were predominantly homosexual. Both had many affairs during their time together and apart. Despite this, they were entirely in love and devoted to each other for their whole lives.
The relationship between Woolf and Sackville-West was extremely passionate. They were lovers for a short period of time, but Sackville-West was forever mindful of Woolf's delicate physical and mental state. Sackville-West's sexual interest was not satiated by the dowdy and repressed Woolf and she moved on to other lovers. This made Woolf jealous, but she was aware of her own physical limitations and did not push them.
Vita and Virginia is a brilliantly crafted depiction of their relationship. The script is constructed from the numerous letters exchanged over almost 20 years. The genius of Woolf's writing shines through. Their personae are at the same time clashing and complimentary. Woolf is reclusive, eloquent and innovative. Sackville-West is dashing, stylish and bold. They adore the other's intelligence, wit and passion.
Ruth Cracknell convincingly plays the complex character of Woolf. Jennifer Hagan's physical portrayal of Sackville-West, in her manly style, is accurate. However, she tries too hard to capture the spirit of Sackville-West and her portrayal seems overdone. Both actors are on stage for the whole of each act, displaying stamina in demanding roles. This is an excellent production enhanced by its minimalist set and expressive lighting. Highly recommended.