RSC Friends

There are two main storylines here that run parallel throughout the play. Firstly, we have the story of an old woman abused and called a witch by her neighbours who then wishes she were a witch so that she can wreak vengeance on the cruel society that has ostracised her. Simultaneously, a young man hides his lover from his father in order to marry the girl his father approves of and so secure his inheritance. He subsequently murders his bride and tries to frame two innocent young men for the murder. The witch and the young man are discovered at the end of the play and both are executed.

What makes this a subversive and powerful drama are the very different reactions a of village society to the two condemned characters. It slowly dawns On us that the witch’s crimes are no more than mischief and petty vandalism but she receives no sympathy whereas the young man, who has lied and murdered to all receives a measure of forgiveness and acceptance by society. The misogyny and hypocrisy of society are laid bare.

A wonderful performance from Eileen Atkins as the eponymous witch scathing and irreverent but ultimately a powerless scapegoat. Her familiar, Dog played by Jay Simpson, moves with a disturbing animality conveying the unnaturalness of a dog walking on two legs.

For all that it is a dark play there are comic scenes from the Morris men that are hugely entertaining. The sparse wintery set matches the dominant mood of the play. Greg Doran’s direction has created an absorbing and surprising play.