Inter Alia at Wyndham’s Theatre Review
Written by Becky K for Theatre and Tonic
Disclaimer: Tickets were gifted in return for an honest review. All views are our own
This production contains themes of sexual assault and rape
After a sell-out season at the National Theatre, Suzie Miller returns to the West End with legal dramaInter Alia. Following the global phenomenon of Prima Facie, Miller again shines a light on the misogyny embedded within our legal structures, which is brought to life by Rosamund Pike’s outstanding performance.
The story centres around the life of Jessica Parks (Pike), who is juggling her important yet taxing career as a London Crown Court Judge with her domestic duty as a mother, wife and friend. A staunch feminist (and a female judge in a male-dominated sector), Jessica is committed to fulfilling her role, fighting against victim stereotypes in the courtroom and making a positive difference in a world where less than 5% of reported rape cases end in conviction. However, when Parks is confronted with an accusation close to home, she is forced to face her own hypocrisy when her firm beliefs are tangled with her unconditional love for her family.
Pike’s solo performance is utterly breathless while she attempts to control each aspect of her professional and home life. Well-directed by Justin Martin, she commands the space as a maverick judge, using a microphone and stand like a rock star to bring justice to rape and sexual assault victims. This is balanced with her domestic life, where she is busy being on top of her home life like a true matriarch: dinner on the table, shirts ironed, and a husband satisfied. Pike never misses a beat in this fast-paced show and is absolutely captivating to watch.
Similarly, Glover explores the sheer panic of a mother’s love and lack of control emotively. Pike delicately puppeteers her son Harry using just a yellow coat, where she can control and protect him. This contrasts with her relationship with Harry as an eighteen-year-old, where Cormac McAlinden does a believable demonstration of how teenagers self-consciously pull away from their mother’s parenting tactics no matter how desperately they try to understand them.
Miller ties in similar themes that have been brought to light in shows such as Netflix’s Adolescence, highlighting how social media and unrestricted internet browsing can distort a young man’s ideology on how to respect women. Pike masterfully portrays Jessica’s horror and frustration at her situation, showcasing her anger at how sexual violence can be perpetuated and gotten away with in a broken system while simultaneously going through the heartbreak of potentially losing her son and not being able to control his fate.
The set and costume design by Miriam Buether is exquisite. A large, modern kitchen that is akin to a stereotypical affluent family fills the space. Behind, a dark woods looms backstage with a swing in it, where Jessica visits in her more panicked state as she revisits past nerves that every mother would know all too well. Similarly, Buether uses costume remarkably to blend Jessica’s professional and home life. She uses domestic clothing, such as a kitchen apron, to transform into a judge’s gown, which overall ties the transitions between home and work life seamlessly.
Performing at Wyndham’s Theatre until 20th June, Miller sensitively explores all perspectives in another epic legal drama, where Pike should be receiving all the accolades for her trailblazing performance.
★★★★★
