Production images by Prudence Upton.

WHO’S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF is about a cocktail party that goes terribly wrong. George and Martha are a deeply unhappy academic couple who are on the precipice of imploding. And this is exactly what they do in front of their unfortunate guests, fellow academic couple, Nick and Honey.

This is a torrid, harrowing night in the theatre. One kind of wants to flee like Honey as the shrapnel from George and Martha’s war flies everywhere, however Albee doesn’t let us go until after the last, final scene between George and Martha which is just heartbreaking. It simply takes one’s breath away.

Iain Sinclair directs this ‘War Of The Roses’ scenario impeccably. Michael Hankin’s set and costume design, assisted by Jeremy Allen, lays the groundwork for the actors to cast their spell. Through the action Sian James-Holland’s lighting and Steve Toulmin’s score complement their performances.

The quartet of actors play Albee’s characters just as the great playwright wrote them.

Genevieve Lemon is a terror as the bitter, hard drinking, blowsy, emasculating, out of control Martha.

Darren Gilshenan’s George appears to be the more tolerable one of the couple however we soon find out that he has as much investment in the fighting as Martha does, and that he is equally pernicious, acrimonious and twisted.

Clare Lovering’s aptly named Honey has a sweet disposition however her temperament is nervy and at times hysterical. Lovering’s performance hints at her character’s darker side well.

At first, Brandon McClelland’s Nick comes across as a mild mannered academic, not prone to ruffling anyone’s feathers, however when George, inevitably locks horns with him in a memorable stoush, Nick gives as much as he gets.

This is a long night in the theatre, some three hours including one interval. It passes quickly as the sparks flying across and around the stage. Recommended, Iain Sinclair’s revival of Edward Albee’s WHO’S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF? Is playing the Ensemble Theatre until June 18.