With the popularity of Orange
Is The New Black, there’s certainly an appetite for stories set in female
prisons. But Piper, Alex and co. wouldn’t stand a chance against John Hayes.
That’s right. John Hayes. Male. In this one woman play from Epsilon Productions, Lucy
Roslyn plays Elyese Dukie, a female prisoner on Death Row suffering from
multiple personality disorder. Or maybe it’s actually John Hayes in the body of
a woman? Or any other of the personalities in the story of her life? We’re
never really sure if she’s addressing us, or the audience inside her head. With
her masculine gait and androgynous looks, Roslyn has cleverly created a
character that represents every inmate, every gender and every sexual
persuasion based on research into real female killers, lending the play a deliciously
chilling authenticity. It’s also what makes her such a frightening yet
strangely alluring figure.
Through extended monologue she explains her past, her
present and her future. It’s a disjointed and fragmented tale that is often
difficult to follow, though that only feeds into the notion of the character’s
psychiatric imbalance, mirrored by subtle changes in lighting. Ultimately it’s
a story about love and the lengths some people will go to, even changing their
personality. But was that really a conscious decision? What really drives
someone into psychopathic territory?
The story itself is less important than the incredible
performance of Roslyn. As she notes herself in the programme, can you be
ruthless and compassionate at the same time? It’s a question that’s at the
heart of her performance, a performance that utterly embodies this character.
She’s charismatic, charming, endearing, dangerous, unpredictable and delves
into dark comic territory with a wicked smile. Most of all she is more human
than monster. Somehow her delivery makes us sympathise with a psychopath as we sit
transfixed and daren’t move out of fear, fascination, or worse – attracting her
own steely gaze and the powerful force for good and/or evil in those dark brown
eyes.
The State vs John
Hayes is a truly captivating and provocative hour long show that’s far too
short – we could easily spend more time in the company of Elyese Dukie. Perhaps,
though, that’s the point. On Death Row life is cruelly all too short for those
who society deems worthless. It’s left to us to decide if we agree.
4/5
Watch: The State vs
John Hayes runs at the Kings Head Theatre until 22nd November as
part of the #Festival45 of new writing.
Photos: Jemma Gross
