Bronwyn Fullerton

THE LAST WIFE @ THE ENSEMBLE THEATRE

The era of ‘The Tudors’, King Henry VIII and his six wives, has, for centuries, been a fascination for historians and storytellers.

Canadian playwright and actor, Kate Hennig, has produced a fresh, modernist take on the relationship between the King and his sixth wife, Catherine Parr, in her play, ‘THE LAST WIFE’.  The play premiered in 2015 in Ontario, Canada, and has been performed extensively in her country and the United States. Mark Kilmurry has directed the first Australian production with his usual contagious enthusiasm and subtle humour.

The charismatic but dangerous Henry VIII (Ben Wood), famous for his “politically-motivated executions”, his scholarly and artistically innovative court and glamorous excess, finds his match in Catherine Parr (Nikki Shiels).

Set in contemporary times with historical accuracy, he comes across as the grizzly Australian larrikin with dangerous undercurrents.  His new wife, a wealthy widow, is smart enough to know that she has to make her own rules to survive, unlike his ill-fated previous five wives.

Catherine is secretly entangled with the King’s ex brother-in-law, Thomas Seymour (Simon London), Henry’s right hand man.  She remains devoted to her husband the King, however, she insists on creating a contract with her own chosen clauses. She must educate and be guardian to her step-children, young Prince Edward (Emma Chelsey), son of Jane Seymour, Mary (Bishanyia Vincent), daughter of Catherine of Aragon, and Bess (Emma Harvie), daughter of Anne Boleyn, and the future Queen Elizabeth I.

Catherine Parr was famous for re-uniting the King with his children and insisted Mary be made legitimate again.

Catherine also insists in the contract that her sexual life with Henry be mutually respectful and that her property remain her own.

As much as Henry admires his wife’s strength, his increasing paranoia creates tension between them.

The play is extremely well cast.  Shiels is dynamic as Catherine, complex and powerful.  Wood is fearful, boisterous and yet vulnerable as Henry, Vincent is fabulous as the non-committal, sarcastic Mary.  Chelsey is a very quirky and likeable heir to the throne as Eddie and Harvie has strength and naiveté as Bess, the future queen, eager to learn.  London has convincing duality between his love for Catherine and his loyalty to the King.

The creatives, particularly set and costume design by Simone Romaniuk and lighting design by Nicholas Higgins, enhance this fast-paced, time-warped drama.

‘THE LAST WIFE’ is entertaining and invigorating as well as historically factual.  Well worth seeing.  It plays at the Ensemble Theatre until 29th of September, 2019.

Featured image : Ben Wood as King Henry V111 and Nikki Shiels as Catherine Parr in ‘the Last Wife’ at the Ensemble Theatre. Pic by Phil Erbacher.

Published by Bronwyn Fullerton

Bronwyn Fullerton worked as an actress and singer for over 20 years after training with Hayes Gordon at The Ensemble Theatre Studios in Sydney in the 70s. She has worked for The Ensemble Theatre, Stables Theatre, Griffin Theatre Company, Sydney Opera House, Sydney Festival, Theatre-in-Education touring, Rocks Theatre at The Sailor’s Home, Balmain Loft, North Coast Theatre Co., Giniby Theatre Co., Bondi Pavilion Theatre and two years with the Marionette Theatre of Australia, including a tour from Alice Springs to Arnhem Land. As well as Film and Television (Chopper Squad) and Voice Overs, Bronwyn worked for the Gate Theatre Club in London and studied mime in Paris. She now teaches ESL English to foreign students and completed a Post-Grad in Film & Video at UTS in 2009/10.