Holden Street Theatre Company’s production delivers an emotionally charged portrayal of marital illusions
Presented by: Holden Street Theatre Company
Reviewed: 7 August 2025
Holden Street Theatre Company and Director Peter Goers bring to life Edward Albee’s 1962 theatre classic Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?. We meet Martha (Martha Lott) and George (Brant Eustice) late (or is it early morning?) after a university faculty party, where they are soon joined by the younger Nick (Chris Asimos) and Honey (Jessica Corrie), who become drawn into their discontented and tumultuous relationship. As the morning draws on, the layers of marriage are continuously peeled back until vulnerable truths are exposed.
Lott and Eustice immediately draw in the audience with their explosive and carefully placed energy. Eustice brings his customary gritty performance, and Lott throws herself into Martha’s complexity. Both performers know exactly what they are doing and how to focus their audience’s attention. Asimos and Corrie contrast the explosive pair, presenting a very different side of marriage. Of course, this illusion rapidly unfolds as we see Nick slowly unstitched and Honey is more than what she initially appears. Lott and Eustice continue to bring their high level of emotional and physical energy throughout the demanding three hour performance, and must be commended for sustaining this. Lott was a standout amongst the strong quartet; she fully embodied the volatility, cruelty, and vulnerability of Martha.
Audiences are greeted by a realistic and carefully crafted set. Whilst it may simply look like a messy lounge room, each item has been carefully placed to entice the audience into looking beyond the illusion. Simple lighting design by Martin Smith subtly highlights the catalyst for the ongoing revelations.
Holden Street Theatre Company’s staging of Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? delivers an emotionally charged portrayal of marital illusions.
Reviewed by Natasha Wood
Photo credit: Toni Lee
Venue: Holden Street Theatres
Season: 5th – 16th August 2025
Duration: 3 hours 30 minutes (including interval)
Tickets: Adult $36.30, Concession $31.30, Groups 6+ #30.30
Bookings: https://www.holdenstreettheatres.com/whos-afraid-of-virginia-woolf
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