A Play That Holds Up: 'Woman in Mind' Remains Unflinchingly Relevant After Four Decades
In a revival of its 40th anniversary year, Sheridan Smith's Susan is a searing portrayal of the suffocating monotony of middle-class life that descends into surreal nightmare. The play, first performed in 1985, still manages to unsettle audiences with its unflinching critique of the emptiness of domesticity and the desperation that can fester beneath.
Susan's world begins to unravel after she suffers a head injury from a garden rake, triggering an alternate reality where her family - husband Gerald (Tim McMullan), dour sister-in-law Muriel (Louise Brealey), and son Rick (Taylor Uttley) who has abandoned his parents for a cult in Hemel Hempstead - appear to be picture-perfect. However, this illusion slowly crumbles as the lines between reality and fantasy blur.
Smith brings whimsical delicacy and subtlety to her performance, conveying Susan's vulnerability and emotional turmoil with nuance. While the tone veers wildly from retro comedy to surreal farce, it remains jarringly unsettling. The supporting cast is equally impressive, particularly Romesh Ranganathan as nervy doctor Bill, whose deadpan delivery injects much-needed levity into an otherwise dark narrative.
As Susan's inner world descends into chaos, she becomes trapped in a waking nightmare of her own making. Meanwhile, the other characters - all seemingly trapped in their own fantasies and delusions - are just as unsatisfyingly one-dimensional. It is unclear whether this is a deliberate choice or simply an effect of Smith's understated performance.
Despite its inconsistent tone, 'Woman in Mind' remains a powerful critique of the emptiness of domestic life and the desperation that can build within it. The play stands as a testament to the enduring power of original storytelling, offering a searing portrayal of the darker corners of the human psyche.
In a revival of its 40th anniversary year, Sheridan Smith's Susan is a searing portrayal of the suffocating monotony of middle-class life that descends into surreal nightmare. The play, first performed in 1985, still manages to unsettle audiences with its unflinching critique of the emptiness of domesticity and the desperation that can fester beneath.
Susan's world begins to unravel after she suffers a head injury from a garden rake, triggering an alternate reality where her family - husband Gerald (Tim McMullan), dour sister-in-law Muriel (Louise Brealey), and son Rick (Taylor Uttley) who has abandoned his parents for a cult in Hemel Hempstead - appear to be picture-perfect. However, this illusion slowly crumbles as the lines between reality and fantasy blur.
Smith brings whimsical delicacy and subtlety to her performance, conveying Susan's vulnerability and emotional turmoil with nuance. While the tone veers wildly from retro comedy to surreal farce, it remains jarringly unsettling. The supporting cast is equally impressive, particularly Romesh Ranganathan as nervy doctor Bill, whose deadpan delivery injects much-needed levity into an otherwise dark narrative.
As Susan's inner world descends into chaos, she becomes trapped in a waking nightmare of her own making. Meanwhile, the other characters - all seemingly trapped in their own fantasies and delusions - are just as unsatisfyingly one-dimensional. It is unclear whether this is a deliberate choice or simply an effect of Smith's understated performance.
Despite its inconsistent tone, 'Woman in Mind' remains a powerful critique of the emptiness of domestic life and the desperation that can build within it. The play stands as a testament to the enduring power of original storytelling, offering a searing portrayal of the darker corners of the human psyche.
anyway i think this 'woman in mind' play is actually kinda genius - it's like, totally insane but in a good way? susan's world is so messed up and i love how sheridan smith just owns that weirdness. the supporting cast is pretty meh tho... romesh ranganathan as the nervous doctor though? best thing about this revival 
. The way Sheridan Smith brings Susan's character to life is just incredible - she's so relatable and vulnerable at the same time. The supporting cast is also top-notch, especially Romesh Ranganathan as the dry-witted doctor 
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... Like, I get it, Sheridan Smith is absolutely phenomenal as Susan - her vulnerability and emotional turmoil are just so palpable on stage. But, at the same time, I'm totally baffled by the inconsistent tone... like, one minute it's this retro comedy vibe and the next, we're plunged into this surreal nightmare 
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. We need more plays like this, ones that make us uncomfortable but also force us to confront our own flaws and imperfections 
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But what really got me was how Smith brings these characters to life - especially the ones that seem perfect on the surface but are secretly freaking messed up 
And then there's Romesh as the doctor, he's like the voice of reason in this chaotic mess 
But what really stuck with me was how the play doesn't shy away from the darker stuff - it's unflinchingly honest about the desperation and emptiness that can build up in domestic life 
It's not an easy watch, but trust me, it's worth it. Go see it! 
. Sheridan Smith is insane, her performance as Susan is like watching a train wreck that you can't look away from - it's that captivating 
. The way she conveys vulnerability and emotional turmoil through her body language and facial expressions is just wow. And can we talk about the supporting cast? Romesh Ranganathan as doctor Bill had me dying laughing one minute and cringing in discomfort the next 
. I love how the script tackles the monotony of middle-class life and the desperation that can build up inside people. It's like, we're still dealing with these same issues today 
. The surreal twist at the end? Mind blown 
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. The whole thing feels like a relic from another era, like something my grandma used to watch at the community center. And don't even get me started on the "surreal nightmare" vibe – it's just a lazy excuse for not having any real plot twists 
. Give me something with some real substance, you know? 
. The way she navigates between reality and fantasy is mind-bending, and I loved how subtle yet powerful it was 
. The cast is incredible too, Romesh Ranganathan as the doctor is hilarious 
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Romesh Ranganathan as the nervous doctor Bill had me laughing out loud, but then the tone would shift to dark and unsettling again 
. The only thing that got me was how one-dimensional some characters felt (like Susan's family), maybe it's just because Smith's performance overshadows them a bit 
I loved how she brought this vulnerable and emotional character to life without being too over-the-top.
. Romesh Ranganathan's deadpan delivery had me giggling in all the wrong places 
. And I have to ask - is it intentional that some characters feel a bit one-dimensional? Either way, it added to the play's unsettling atmosphere 
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. It might just give you nightmares...but in a good way 
. And can we talk about the supporting cast? Romesh Ranganathan as doctor Bill is everything 
. it's like, we get it, domestic life can be suffocating, but the play also makes you feel all the feels 
Sheridan Smith is insane!!! her performance is soooo nuanced and subtle, it's like she's speaking directly to my soul lol. I mean, who hasn't felt trapped in their own life at some point? 
4 decades old and still raking it in at the box office... 1.2 million+ audience members can't be wrong, right? 
But seriously, have you seen the mental health stats in the UK? 
The supporting cast is also amazing, especially Romesh as the deadpan doc, he adds this whole other level of humor to an already dark show.
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. The cast is great too, I loved Romesh Ranganathan as the doctor, he's so funny! But sometimes I felt like some of the characters were a bit one-dimensional, you know? Anyway, its definitely worth watching if you're into that sorta thing