Thérèse Raquin under the microscope

Here's an interview with playwright Gary Abrahams, in which he talks about the first day of rehearsal of his play at the National Play Festival 2012....

Every choice we make, is driven by self serving impulses. We inevitably become very good liars because one of the ways to get what we want is to convince others to want what we want too. And we do this by learning how to convince others of our 'absolute' truth. I know this a very cynical viewpoint... but I think this is the point of view Zola takes...

Newlyweds, Thérèse and Camille, have just moved to Paris with Camille’s mother. Paris is nothing but hard work for Thérèse. She’s running a shop, humouring her mother-in-law and listening to her sickly husband’s plans for the railway administration. It all changes when Camille’s dashing childhood friend, Laurent, appears out of the blue. Thérèse and Laurent become lovers and plot Camille’s murder... Adapted from the novel by Émile Zola.

The moved reading is directed by Tanya Gerstle, the cast includes Sue Jones and Robert Menzies.

You can catch the performance on Friday 24 February at 7pm at the Malthouse in Melbourne.