Rika’s Rooms

In “Rika’s Rooms,” the life of #playwright Gail Louw’s mother unfurls on stage like a meticulously detailed map of the 20th century with #powerhouse performer Emma Wilkinson Wright serving as our guide through the tumultuous terrain of history. This #solo play, adapted from Louw’s novel, demands unwavering attention 👀 as Wright embodies over twenty characters, tracing Rika’s journey from the ashes of Nazi Germany, through the fields of revolutionary Palestine, into the heart of Apartheid South Africa, and finally, into the solitude of old age in England…

Wilkinson Wright is nothing short of phenomenal✨, showcasing an agility & depth that captivates & carries us across decades & continents. Her ability to switch between roles with seamless precision offers us a glimpse into Rika’s complex world, populated by figures both tender & tyrannical. The narrative itself, ripe with the ghosts of Rika’s past, swings between her youthful struggles as a refugee & freedom fighter to her later years marred by dementia, where reality blurs with memories of love & loss, external & internal battles…

However, the play’s strength in its rich tapestry of experiences also poses its biggest challenge. The depth of its historical & emotional content, while compelling, can feel formidable, turning one woman’s extraordinary life into a theatrical marathon that struggles to keep pace with itself 🏃‍♀️…

…as we survey Rika’s involvement in Apartheid, the narrative feels rushed, skimming over moments ripe for deeper exploration. The metaphor of Rika’s constant displacement, poignant & beautifully woven through the narrative, highlights her lifelong search for belonging & peace, yet the novelistic ambition of the script sometimes muddies the clarity & impact of this central theme…

Despite these challenges, “Rika’s Rooms” succeeds as a daring exploration of #identity & memory that is reminiscent of #VirginiaWoolf’s #Orlando in scope. We’re left reflecting on the vastness of a single life against the backdrop of history, the stories we carry, and the ones we leave behind. 4/5⭐