Review by RJWestwell Ely Standard, 29 September 2005

'Cell Talk' in Ely Cathedral

Cameo Theatre Company, under the perceptive directorship of Rex Walford, transfixed the sizeable audience in Ely Cathedral south transept with an exceptional production of Cell Talk by Dana Bagshaw. The 'cell' in this case was no prison cell. It was the place where a phenomenal sage of religious thought, belief and experience, Julian ofNorwich, lived. In an amazingly authentic depiction of a close relationship between two women, Julian of Norwich (played by Rosemary Eason) and Margery Kempe (played by Tricia Peroni) explored issues that haunt our deepest beliefs and that remain integral problems of our lives. They explored them with credible passion, sincerity and empathy forcing the audience to become inextricably involved.

This was not the distant reflections of known religious experts, rather a close encounter with the development of an insightful relationship between two friends of profound religious experience. There were no barriers to the extremes of religion, politics and sex that these amazing characters covered. Life, death, birth, abortion, contraception, celibacy, marriage, male -female relationships, gossip, the political power of the Church, fear, anger, jealousy, sanity, madness, the gift of writing, visions, heresy, the nature of God, love and evil- even pornography and drugs -were a few of the subjects touched.

Yet, the restraint, grace and humility we accept as fundamental qualities of religious orders, the impassioned pleas of a husband left to his own devices by a wife drawn fervently to an uninhibited embracement of her religious passion and the closeness of two women in deep conversation, sharing their inner most beliefs and experiences were constantly present.

Rosemary Eason played a splendidly wise yet human mentor in Julian ofNorwich who revealed and learned much during the development of her relationship with Margery Kempe. Tricia Peroni played Margery Kempe with such vitality and spirit that the audience quickly identified with the personality of this impassioned religious crusader as her wisdom and experience grew. John Kempe, the much perplexed husband, was admirably portrayed by Ken Eason as he lovingly observed and tolerated the vicissitudes of his religiously impassioned wife.

The success of this production was enhanced with excellent stage management, lights and sound by Richard Peroni who provided authentic continuity with excerpts from music of the period. The costumes (by Margaret Thorp ) also had a significant effect on this play which positively mesmerised the audience.

What is more amazing is that the play was drawn from historical documents fro around the 14th and 15th centuries and yet maintained a refreshingly natural flow of easily comprehensible language. (Julian of Norwich's book Revelations of Divine Love is the first work in English known to have been written by a woman and Margery Kempe?s The Book of Margery Kempe is the earliest- known autobiography in English). The play was ideally situated in the south transept of Ely Cathedral and it is to be hoped that this fine company returns to this venue soon. Cambridge-based Cameo performs Cell Talk next at All Saints' Church. Ashdon. Essex on Sunday 2nd October at 7 p.m. for tickets tel: 01799584968.