Iphigenia in Splott

A furious night with “Iphigenia in Splott”

Trying something different this evening with a one-person play, coming to New York from Wales after winning the UK Theatre Award.

Sophie Melville was incredible tonight as Effie, a fierce young woman whose life was falling apart from alcohol abuse to unsatisfying relationships, but who nevertheless stood her ground even when the society casted her out as the “stupid slag” and “nasty skank” to avoid crossing on the streets. Over the course of 7 to 8 months, we were brought deep into Effie’s psychic. We understood her desire to care, and felt her will of never wanting to be alone again. Just when we thought life was about to change for Effie, everything came crashing down on one snowy day.

Here’s the real head fake in this play…

We felt sorry for Effie. However, the chain of events also exposed in real human terms, whom we sacrifice in our society when money is tight. What are our goals as a nation? To maximize business growth and corporate profits? Or, do we not have a greater purpose and other responsibilities to our own community? At the end, we felt even sadder and sorrier, for losing sight of the bigger picture.