Knives In Hens - Play- Review

                                               
Knives In Hens by David Harrower at the Donmar Warehouse, London

The title itself suggested no ordinary story and being set in pre-industrial society spoke to many traits that can still be seen today and demonstrated in many villages the world over even now.  Thus it was topical in many ways and easily understandable.  Women treated like chattels, belongings, for the satisfaction of men and also as labourers, tasked, ordered to do more work by their men folk, husbands.

The contrasts between the ploughman, William and the miller, Gilbert were abundantly worlds apart!! The ploughman was looked up to in his village and revered for the farming and work that he did. Able to take any woman and not only as his wife and more.  Seen as the 'bread winner' and most of all one to be obeyed.  The miller in contrast, more well read, hands-on in his work too and a tier above the ploughman.  Also highly intelligent.  Shown by many lines, but particularly the line when William comments on why he has so many books?  Miller: so he can read a new one.  That's reflected in the world, so he can get ahead with what's going on and strive to be better and most importantly to have dreams.  This he showed to the ploughman's wife and that meeting where he asks her to write her name.  That he writes his thoughts on paper so that he can look back on them whenever he wants. The pen is mesmerizing to her as all she's ever seen are tools and more importantly, knives, on display frequently in her hands for her work.  The pen is seen as an object of evil by her, as are words, but it's fascinating for her to know little by little there's more to her life than what William has made her believe.  In the age old expression: the pen is mightier than the sword!  Until this is turned around on itself in a way in the penulimate "act" as I call it.

Lots of taboos associated with the miller and that fateful meeting with the wife as she drags the bags to his mill, yeah it's her doing the heavy labouring whilst William looks after the pregnant mare.  It's the miller who plants thoughts in her head about what is out there, what can be done.  As she sits down to write her thoughts.  It is these same wily thoughts in her head which lead to lust and ultimately tragedy.  Knew that was coming!  Not giving anything away!  At first she refuses to accept any of what the miller tells her as real and there's a scene reminiscent in my mind, of Lady Macbeth from Macbeth, as she scrubs her hands from the ink in desperation.  Mirroring Lady Macbeth's "out, out damned spot after the King's murder.  Hiding her indiscretion from William in actually holding the pen and using it.
                                            
Excellent cast performances from Matt Ryan as the miller Gilbert (as I tweeted he would play that role).  In many ways for someone who writes a lot, he curiously appears as a man of very little words, but still intensely passionate in his beliefs, wanting more to this life of hardship, to explore. Judith Roddy as the put upon wife who discovers there's more to life than just work and discovers dreaming and the world around her.  Christian Cooke as William, I so want to write "Pony William" here!! Okay I did.  But yeah happy Matt did climb back down from that ladder as he seemed to vanish! Ha.

In some respects it shows how far society has progressed when the majority of us don't have to live in a world where there is only toil, where we're not allowed to think or most importantly, to do: do what we want, not what someone tells us to do: follow our dreams!
Was there some form of magical charm in the Miller's hold over her, my interpretation was that he could, according to the superstitions of the day have a magical hold on her.  But I think the magic behind his actions were to teach her, as I said to be independent, more an intellectual.  Which somehow bought out the carnal instincts in them.

As one Evening Standard review wrote of how Matt played "brooding".  He always was good at that, in my opinion, in Constantine and in much, much more.
Wonderful to have seen Matt again as always - and to have had a quick chat afterwards!!