REVIEW: THE BOOK OF MARGERY KEMPE by Nadia Lines, Camden Fringe at Old Red Lion Theatre 5 – 9 August 2024

‘the play thrives on well observed irony’ ★★★★

Cambridge University Amateur Dramatic Club presents The Book of Margery Kempe with aplomb. This student led production has a number of trump cards: thoughtful casting, youthful energy, and a very healthy sense of irony.  It also has an extremely promising writer who has already won many accolades. Nadia Lines  is winner of the 2019 Foyle Young Poets of the Year Award, the 2019 Orwell Youth Prize and the 2020 Tower Poetry Competition. She’s also published. To top it all, she also writes and directs for theatre (this is not her first play).  Her retelling of Margery Kempe’s story is brought into the 21^st century. 

Rather delightfully, Margery Kempe, is a real historical figure who lived 1373 - 1438. A woman who apparently refused to be cowed by male dominance. An English Christian Mystic, she’s known for writing her autobiography through dictation (as she is unschooled in letters herself).  Her book chronicles her domestic life, her pilgrimages, and her mystical conversations with God.

Margery is the central figure in Lines’ play with many peripheral figures whom Margery deals with according to her own will. Magery’s life is made relevant and sparkles with determination, mystery and devout beliefs. The latter being rather refreshing in today’s more secular world. The casting choices are wonderful, including an Asian Jesus played to perfection by Akshit Ahuja. He is so ‘transcendental’, that Margery’s surprisingly carnal relationship with him seems perfectly normal, an extension of spirituality which most Christians haven’t yet embraced. This and many other ironies is where Lines’ work really shines.

Margery played by Amenie Groves, has a wonderful delivery with a calm, no nonsense, ‘yes if you must burn me that’s fine, I will do it for my beliefs’ kind of attitude. Happily, Margery, remains unscathed, even though there does seem to be a close call with the Bishop, played with evil relish by Theo Parkin. The Bishop is outraged to be outdone by a mere unschooled woman, who claims to be ‘a virgin’ despite having 14 children by her husband. He, himself, has given up all worldly passions to reach his position in life and here is this mere woman undermining his sacrifice, claiming to have visions of biblical scenes.   It is the kind of cruelly comic reversal on which the play thrives.

The flashbacks which Margery claims to have, showing her at the crucifixion and other scenes, are played out in the drama quite seamlessly. It’s an extraordinary achievement to bring clarity to so many different aspects of Margery’s diary. It is perhaps the tongue in cheek approach which helps to unify the various themes, and keeps the audience engaged. It is a fun play, not a moment too long. It could easily be expanded to a much longer play and with such a large cast, it’s crying out for a much larger stage (sorry pub theatres, all but one of them just wouldn’t having the playing space). Old Red Lion has a history of plays transferring to the West End and having longevity, and maybe this is another contender for a leap of that sort (with a professional cast).

Whilst thinking about the cast, it’s worth mentioning another favourite character, Margery’s long-suffering husband, John Kempe, played by Artemis Loynes. With his long blond hair and whinging personality he’s a good foil for Margery. Loynes also plays the good-natured Father William, with a sweetness of character as well as providing a mildly critical observer of Margery’s antics.

Margery is an outrageous character made all the more amazing because she has been spirited back to life from the medieval period and reminds us that there are many such women yet to be rediscovered and given their place in our hearts and our heads.

Cast

Margery Kempe – Amenie Groves

Jesus – Akshit Ahuja

John Kempe – Artemis Loynes

Multirole Player – Eve Robson

Bishop Graham – Theo Parkin

Multirole Player – Abi Green

Father William – Artemis Loynes

Mary – Irisa Kwok

Production Team

Writer/Director – Nadia Lines

Producer – Liv Bouton

Assistant Director – Frederick Upton

Sound Designer – Stan Hunt

Technician – Liv Bouton

Publicity Designer – Anna Piper-Thompson

Stage Manager – Olivia Little

Costume Designer – Olivia Little

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