BWW Reviews: BLONDE POISON Is A Moving, Rollercoaster Account Of Stella Goldschlag's Justification Of Her Betrayal To Survive War Torn Berlin

Tuesday 4 August 2015, The Old Fitz Theatre, Wolloomooloo

Gail Louw's one woman play BLONDE POISON draws on the true story of Stella Kübler-Isaacksohn née Goldschlag, the woman dubbed by the Gestapo as 'Blonde Poison" for her role as a 'Griefer', turning in fellow Jews in Berlin to ensure her own survival. The audience is given a glimpse into this tormented woman, played by Belinda Giblin, as she awaits an interview with a respected journalist. As she counts down the minutes, Stella tries to come to terms with her past, sometimes justifying her decisions, relishing in her actions even, other times horrified at what she had to do, seeking forgiveness and always hoping that her parents would still see her as their princess and beautiful girl, the challenges of the time and circumstances are played out.

Designer Derrick Cox has created a small living room with 1970's furniture and peeling wallpaper, decorated with crocheted doilies, photographs and stuffed toys, and a coffee table set for morning coffee for two complete with streusel. Stella, in a classy black dress, a strand of pearls at her throat and perfect blonde curls enters, reading a letter, horrified by its contents which she doesn't share, instead putting it aside to check that the room is "Nice, clean, everything in order".

After nervous, anxious rambling focusing on her appearance, talking to herself and to the photograph of her parents, Mutti and Papa, that sits beside the sofa we learn that Stella is waiting to be interviewed by a journalist Paul, who she knew as a child. Over the hour and a half as she waits for Paul, she wonders what he will ask, how much he will know and if he will judge her. Through the monologue where she reenacts phone calls, conversations and events we also see how she judges herself and how she tries to come to terms with her past.

Lighting and sound designers Matthew Tunchon and Jeremy Silver highlight moments where Stella relives her memories with tunnels of light in the darkness as Stella and her mother hid in the factory during the Gestapo raid to bombs exploding as the prison in which she was being held was struck.

Giblin beautifully captures the conflicted Stella. She gives her lightness as she remembers happy memories from her childhood to her early adult life where she lived happily with her husband and was worshipped by many men for her beauty. The narcissistic nature is displayed as she primps and preens in front of the full length mirror, believing she can pass for 50, despite being 71, and her continued references to the adoration she received from a young age, including from a younger Paul. In contrast, Giblin also captures Stella's cruel nature as she shows her disdain for her fellow Jews as she recounts her early impression that other Jews deserved to be targeted as they refused to assimilate and the power she felt once she turned into informant, seeking out the Jews in hiding, the "U-boats", and pointing them out to the Gestapo. Stella's justification of what she did in contrast with guilt she feels causes her to flip between emotions through the recount, drawing mixed feelings from the audience. At some points you want to feel sorry for the woman that now lives in isolation, surviving off takeaway food with little contact with anyone else, but other times the reality of her actions and rejection of her fellow Jews, and her denouncement of her heritage, makes the audience wonder if they should feel sympathy.

BLONDE POISON is a moving work with an important true story at its core. It is intense, humorous and horrifying all at the same time. Director Jennifer Hagan has presented this with a pace that keeps the audience engaged and the choices between when Stella talks to the photographs, the door where she expects Paul to arrive and the audience ensures that the audience feel they are sitting in Stella's living room, witnessing her inner turmoil come out.

BONDE POISON

28 July 2015 - 15 August 2015

Old Fitz Theatre, 29 Dowling Street Wooloomooloo

Photos: Marnya Rothe

To post a comment, you must register and login.