Blonde Poison (MTC) – theatre review

A harrowing and dramatic story based upon fact, Belinda Giblin gives the performance of her life in what could well be the role of her life. Blonde Poison is an award winning, singled handed play about beauty, treachery and the high price of survival.

Stella Goldschlag (Giblin) was living illegally in war-torn Berlin when she was betrayed and tortured. When offered the chance to save herself and her parents from the death camps, she agreed to be a “greifer” or catcher for the Gestapo and inform on other Jews in hiding. She was extraordinarily successful in so doing. “Credited” with finding and capturing 3,000 Jews, she continued working for the Gestapo even after her parents had been exterminated. She was given the name “Blonde Poison”. The scope of Stella’s character ranges from tortured victim to cruel killer, from loving daughter and mother to betrayer of friends, from considerate lover to promiscuous hussy.

Decades after the war and now aged in her early 70s, Stella has been married four times and produced a daughter.  Now though, she is alone in her living room with only her thoughts for company.  She has agreed to be interviewed by a childhood friend who has become a respected journalist, in what could be her last chance at redemption, if that is even possible.  As she recounts her life story, evocative sounds add significant gravitas to her vivid recollections.

Giblin is sheer dynamite, prowling the stage like she owns it, which she, indeed, does for 90 minutes, during which we – the audience – dare not look away.  She illuminates Stella’s strengths and exposes her vulnerabilities with distinction.  She is equally vain, contemptuous and broken in reflection as she counts down the minutes before the said journalist visits her home to hear her “confession”.

Critically important are the nuances of character that she brings to the fore, often referring to her father – who called her a princess – and mother. Just learning the lines – and, believe me, this production is textually dense – to hold an audience in the palm of one’s hands for 90 minutes without interval would be a task too onerous for many.  But to do so with such command of the material, with such light and shade, verve and authority is something very special to behold. The content is gut-wrenching as Stella lays bare a past, which arguably cost the lives of thousands and with it any hope of a soul at peace.

Director Jennifer Hagen’s rapid pacing ensures we can barely pause for breath before another chapter unfolds … and then another and another.  That allows us to gradually piece together the full story and soak up the total horror of what went on and the cruelties that were perpetrated.  It raises the question that if given the choice would you try to protect your family and yourself from persecution or condemn others to certain death?

Blonde Poison was written by South African-born playwright and former academic Gail Louw, who now lives in Hove, on the south coast of England. It is certainly not for the faint-hearted, but it is oh so memorable – a work that hits and hits hard. It is playing at Southbank Theatre, The Lawler until 11th June.

Company: Melbourne Theatre Company
Venue: Southbank Theatre, The Lawler, Melbourne
Dates: to 11 June 2016

Alex First