In The Marvellous Adventures of Mary Seacole, our heroine reflects on putting her life story into words, noting “the tale sits on my lips” as did the stories of her mother and grandmother before her. This theme of women passing their legacy down through the generations has relevance behind the scenes as well: lead performer Daniella Pollendine takes the reins of this one-woman show from original writer Cleo Sylvestre, who, in turn, was adapting Seacole’s memoir. The resulting play, directed at the Rosemary Branch Theatre by Sophia Woolfenden and Maria Sousa, is a wonderful piece of storytelling that feels authentic. Though it’s filtered through the perspective of adapters, Mary owns this story, which she recounts in her own words.
Raised in Kingston before marvellously adventuring across the globe, Mary Seacole was undeniably a trailblazer. Born to a British father and a Jamaican mother, it was the latter’s talent for medicine that inspired Mary to become a healer. Infused with entrepreneurial spirit, she ventured to many places but is probably most famous for her British Hotel, where she tended soldiers in the Crimean War. Seacole had the good sense to record her incredible life in an autobiography (the first Black woman to do so in Britain), which provided the basis for this play.
The Marvellous Adventures of Mary Seacole is a wonderful tribute to its subject. The script is eloquent and sometimes even poetic, a credit both to Pollendine and Sylvestre’s writing and Seacole’s own words in the memoir. Mary is painted as a woman with resolve and good humour, but also a tender heart and a reflective nature. She’s very easy to like, with a compelling liveliness that’s brought out well by Woolfenden and Sousa’s energetic direction.
As is so often the case with one-person shows, the play relies heavily on a captivating lead performance, but Pollendine is more than up to the task. She portrays Mary’s intelligence and warmth in equal measure, and deftly swaps to additional characters when needed. She’s a real talent, and one to watch.
As is also so often the case with one-person shows, there are elements of the production that could use a little extra polish. There are some slightly odd, superfluous lighting changes, and a few unruly props. Though she gets through it admirably, it perhaps wasn’t necessary to have Pollendine battle through a 19th-century costume change all on her own.
There’s also a slightly inconsistent rhythm, with some scenes feeling fast-forwarded. That’s probably inevitable when condensing a lifetime into a brisk 45 minutes, though some of it’s down to Seacole’s own storytelling sensibilities (in the memoir she dispenses with her entire eight-year marriage in just nine lines). Regardless, it’s a bit discombobulating and leaves the audience wanting more.
Quibbles aside, though, The Marvellous Adventures of Mary Seacole is a highly watchable show. With a protagonist and core story that’s inherently appealing, the first-person narration works perfectly. Thanks to a beautiful script and a great lead performance from Pollendine, it’s unquestionably a winner.
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