REVIEW: UNTIL SHE SLEEPS by Brad Sutherland at The White Bear 5-16 Nov 2024

Photography: Paddy Gormley

"She's turned against me." ★★★

Golden couple Henrietta and Edward Dunbar are living the high life. He's the captain of the golf club and she's his glitzy American wife who's highly skilled at schmoozing club members, but their perfect life comes to an abrupt end when Henrietta is diagnosed with a degenerative illness.

Unable to cope with Henrietta's deteriorating health, the Dunbar's turn on each and as friends turn away, they punish each other by playing power games and competing to hurt each other with cruel barbs. 

"Until She Sleeps" has intriguing themes it never fully explores - it seemed undecided as to what genre it was - a Hitchcockian thriller, a psychological drama, a tearjerker about a dying woman, or a challenge to assisted suicide laws. It also struggled with tonal imbalance and character depth. The story of a marriage crumbling under the strain of illness and mutual bitterness has the potential for both intense drama and subtle poignancy. However, the play’s emphasis on relentless antagonism and repetitive abrasive interactions between the couple makes it emotionally draining rather than nuanced, and Henrietta in particular never felt fully rounded.

The second half, where the production takes on a more sombre and touching tone, is more engaging and effecting, as we see Henrietta's gradual demise. There are moments of genuine tenderness amidst the hostility and if the play had integrated these softer moments throughout, it might have provided a richer, more balanced emotional journey.

Several highlights included good direction (David Furlong) and stylistic choices  that were simple and effective. The set was minimal but elegant while the music was jarring and reinforced the plays tense undercurrents.

Ultimately, while "Until She Sleeps" is ambitious and has a storyline ripe for potential, its heavy-handed delivery and lack of tonal variation keep it from fully delivering on its promise.

UNTIL SHE SLEEPS by Brad Sutherland 

Presented by Maiden Productions

The White Bear 

5-16 Nov

Direction: David Furlong

Design: Juliette Demoulins 

Box Office: https://www.whitebeartheatre.co.uk/whatson/until-she-sleeps?b=book