Death and the Maiden by Ariel Dorfman

Set in a fragile new South American democracy, this piece concerns Paulina who, fifteen years ago, was picked up by the police, blindfolded and tortured. When Roberto stops to help Gerardo, whose car has broken down, and brings him home, Paulina is convinced that he is one of her torturers. Husband and wife are caught in a gripping, passionate deadlock: one liberal and judicious, the other victimised and full of hatred, coming to grips with an oppressor.

Performance Dates: 6th - 13th February 2010
Director: Geoff Bennett

Review

A superbly atmospheric set and three gripping performances sum up Death And The Maiden, the latest production at the Criterion Theatre, Coventry.

Set in the Chile of 1990 and written by Ariel Dorfman, who spent 17 years in exile because of his opposition to the dictatorship of General Pinochet, this could easily be the story of any number of other victims. In this case Paulina, played with a finely judged mix of terror and malice by Libby McKay. When Paulina's lawyer husband Gerado (Andrew Bayliss), is given a lift home by a random stranger, she recognises the voice of her former torturer. Or does she?

The play makes great use of the Criterion's space and experienced director Geoff Bennett doesn't take his foot off the dramatic pedal for a minute as we are propelled into Paulina's living nightmare. Only this time she's the one with the gun. "Good Samaritan" Roberto (John Fenner) can only protest his innocence. He reminds Paulina of the cycle of revenge; of the need to bury the past; of how if she kills him then in 15 years time his children will come to kill her.

Meanwhile, Gerado has been appointed to a new transitional government commission which has promised to investigate all deaths during the former regime - but actually prosecute nobody. It's time to look forward, he tells his vengeful wife. But does he, or she, really believe that?

A fascinating, thought-provoking evening.

Barbara Goulden

Moonlight and Magnolias by Ron Hutchinson

Hollywood, 1939: semi-independent mogul David O. Selznick has just shut down production on the most eagerly anticipated movie in history - his mega budget version of Margaret Mitchell's bestselling novel Gone With The Wind - scrapping the original script and sacking the director in the process.

Detrmined to produce a rewrite in five days, he engages the services of ace script doctor Ben Hecht - possibly the only person in America who has not read the novel - and the movie's new director Victor Fleming, poached straight from the set of Wizard of Oz, where he had been squabbling with the Munchkins and coming to blows with Judy Garland.

His reputation on the line, and with nothing but a stockpile of peanuts and bananas to sustain them, Selznick locks himself in his office with his two collaborators, and a marathon creative session begins...

Performance Dates: 27th March - 3rd April 2010
Director: John Ruscoe

Whipping it Up by Steve Thompson

It's a week before Christmas, and the new Tory government is facing dissent over its latest Bill. With a majority of only three, the Whips' office is out in full force, and they'll stop at nothing to keep the strays in line. But they're in for a long night: boy scouts are rioting in Whitehall, the PM's golfing with the President, five Tory rebels are on the loose and the Chief Whip's playing at Santa - could this be the beginnings of a leadership challenge?

Whipping It Up is a fast-moving switchback of a play, with more twists and double-bluffs than a poker game between conmen.

Performance Dates: 15th - 22nd May
Director: Gennie Holmes

The Herbal Bed by Peter Whelan

The play is based on actual events which occurred in Stratford upon Avon in the summer of 1613, when William Shakespeare's eldest daughter Susanna was publicly accused of having a sexual liaison with Rafe Smith, a married neighbour and family friend.

Her husband, the respected Stratford physician John Hall, is desperate for her to clear her name in order to save his practice and gives her his complete support - but how can he avoid the fact that one summer's night while he was away from Stratford, Rafe Smith was seen secretly leaving their herbal garden?

Performance Dates: 10th - 17th July 2010
Director: Keith Railton