Within The Glass

Paul Braunstein, Philippa Domville, Nicola Correia-Damude, Rick Roberts in Within the Glass. Photo by Cylla von Tiedemann.

Tarragon playwright-in-residence Anna Chatterton’s new piece Within the Glass is a timely exploration of In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) that is as entertaining as it is thought provoking. The play takes place in the aftermath of a critical mistake by a fertility clinic, in which a fertilized egg was implanted into the wrong woman. This may sound like an unrealistic, far-fetched setup for a play. But as the old adage says, truth is stranger than fiction—Chatterton’s comedic drama was inspired by a headline about this very scenario happening at a clinic in the States.

Within The Glass takes place over the course of a single evening, when a well-off, highly-strung Type A couple Darah (Philippa Domville) and Michael (Rick Roberts) invite Linda (Nicola Correia-Damude), a spiritual vegetarian artist (who happens to be carrying their fetus) and her bewildered husband Scott (Paul Braunstein) into their trendy home. Over the course of this absurd evening, the couples fight to determine their uncertain futures, to both hilarious and heart-wrenching effect. While Darah and Linda waver between extending olive branches and going for the jugular, Michael and Scott struggle—and fail—to keep things on a somewhat even keel.

This is a very funny play with a biting edge. Kudos must go to Domville for her hilarious performance as Darah, who could be described as Carrie Bradshaw on speed. However, the ensemble cast is excellent across the board, with consistent laughs delivered throughout, even while the audience is reminded of the primitive instincts that lurk below the bourgeoisie surface. Don’t miss this brilliant contemporary exploration of one of the most personal philosophical dilemmas that modern science has given us.

Within The Glass runs until February 14, 2016 at Tarragon Theatre. Visit tarragontheatre.com or more information and to buy tickets.

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Q&A: Within The Glass

Anna Chatterton on how a disturbing news story inspired her fertility themed play