When the time comes to become a parent, you just know…right ? Especially the woman – the maternal instinct is reputedly strong. But what if you aren’t so sure ?
First ever performance of Alice No in English. Very impressive.
Alice No, by La Petite Mort Teatro, is staged at The Museum of Alchemists at the 23rd Prague Fringe; such a lovely venue. The stage is small, no - intimate, immediately instilling the sense that the narrator is about to reveal herself to us. We soon learn that our protagonist, Alice, (Sofia Pauly) has just undergone a pregnancy termination procedure and is in the throes of post-op recovery.
Alice is waiting. And waiting. The staff, pleasant enough, are not helpful. The futility of small talk is obvious. She is apparently consumed by minutiae, fixating on inconsequential details, such as the ingredients in her biscuits and the optimum number of mini pizze. But this is, of course, transference – her brain is not wishing to land on the big question :"How does she feel ?"
Alice is conflicted – she is a self-aware, modern woman aged 35 who understands that this is perhaps the life moment to venture into motherhood; if not now, when ? She appears to be in a stable, established relationship. And she further reveals that she is a children’s books illustrator and her boyfriend, Felix, a children’s books publisher. The pregnancy was, however, unplanned and Felix simply allows her to decide about keeping the baby. Does this indicate that Felix is embracing female empowerment, or is he ambivalent ? Her psychologist is on maternity leave – a sign…or just irony ?
The younger woman in the next bed is now having second thoughts about the procedure, but Alice is numb, she feels nothing. Why not ?
“Alice No” is her often employed, self-regulatory, mantra. Is this is a tell that she does not trust herself ? And if that is the case, is there a nagging doubt about the procedure ?
Alice’s feelings begin to rise to the surface and she feels strange. She makes the case for the termination: gin and tonics, sex, sushi, getting her life back in general – but these are only expressed in her own mind, not outwardly – and she is unconvincing, perhaps over-compensating. She further suggests that it is irresponsible to bring a child into this world, with the environmental crisis at the forefront. She locks onto this thought; it seems to hold water. But … did she only have this thought because she is pregnant ? The logic is circular and she is unnerved by the all the uncertainty. In words of The The “uncertain emotions force an uncertain smile”.
This is a master-class of writing, story-telling and physical performance by Pauly; she adopts a variety of characters, holding us and constantly digging deeper. The purpose of the brief audience participation is unclear and it perhaps broke the narrative, rather than the fourth wall, but this is a minor gripe in an otherwise outstanding performance. The pace is precise (credit to director Gianluca Maria Bozzale) and we see Alice’s thoughts landing. The comedic asides bring to mind Fleabag.
One final thing: this show is usually performed in Italian; tonight’s performance of Alice No was the first ever in English. This was no mean feat - it was all very, very impressive.
