Still Angela – Jenny Kemp

Welcome to the weird and wonderful world of Still Angela. Confusing at times, but in the end it finally makes sense. Still Angela was published in 2002 so it’s a modern Australian play, which is a change from last week. From reading a classic 60’s Australian play to a 00’s Australian play, there are so many differences, not just in the themes tackled but also the writing itself. In Still Angela there is a different use of the stage space, and character development.

Still Angela is a story of a woman called Angela, and her life. It’s just before her birthday and she goes through a physical and imaginative journey through her life from her childhood to her adult life. There are 3 Angela’s in the play, to signify 3 periods of her life. Angela 1 is in her 20’s, Angela 2, 30’s and Angela 3 is in her 40’s. Throughout her life we’re introduced to different people who have effected and changed her life. We see the sad and tragic parts of her life and then memories that she loves. Finally the 3 Angela’s learn to celebrate and accept their lives, and finally she is happy and appreciative of the people in her life.

The play repeats itself a little, it highlights the cyclical nature of her life. With her partner she goes through the same routine every morning, and through each Angela, at different stages of her life, we see different changes that come with age, but also things that are defining of her character. The play is broken into sections from the prologue to section 1-8. Each section is a different part of her life and part of her memory, which as I was reading I was able to build a type of character that Angela was.

For our season, I’m not quite sure if this play would be realistic, just because of the use of the stage. Again at the theatre that we have chosen to play our season, there is minimal space, although I can see this play being adapted for a smaller stage. Visually this play could become quite complex, although because it is a very symbolic and more imaginative kind of play, the freedom it would give to the actors and the directors to play with what the audience will end up seeing, it could turn out to be a true and original adaption of Still Angela. 

3 Angela's - 20's 30's & 40's

Scene with her partner - Chess board is central to the whole play.

Julia!