by SARAH RUHL
May 12, 2018 - June 2, 2018
The Court Theatre's Tonkin & Taylor Main Stage, Christchurch
Book NowCatherine Givings tends to her baby under the electric glow of a floor lamp. In the next room, a low buzz can be heard. It is an unfamiliar sound to those witnessing the dawn of the electrical age.
Catherine’s husband, a brilliant and overly analytical scientist is using a new device to relieve “hysteria”. At his home-based clinic he tests this invention, a Chattanooga vibrator, on patients who quickly become advocates of his treatment.
Catherine, fiercely independent yet lonely and struggling with motherhood, starts to wonder what she is missing when patients return for multiple treatments. Her desire to connect with her husband, without an electrical current, forces the Givings to confront the realities of their marriage, their love and the nature of intimacy. Beautifully written, intelligent and classy, In the Next Room, or the vibrator play is a stunning comedy about repression, liberation and what takes place behind closed doors.
Hidden in Christchurch’s suburb of Addington is New Zealand’s largest theatre company. In its post-earthquake refuge – an old grain shed – is a magical world of happiness, laughter, drama and intrigue.
The Court has matched the ever-diversifying Christchurch population and creates and supports work for everyone in our community including children and families, for the Tangata Whenua and for Christchurch’s growing Pasifika communities.
The Court has something for everyone. It has something for those who want their entertainment king-sized and world class, for those who want to sit back and enjoy a good laugh, and for those who want theatre to challenge, to spark debate and to stay in their mind long after the show has finished. The Court creates, and helps create, work for all the people of Ōtautahi.
View The Court Theatre's profile
Phone 03 963 0870
Website https://courttheatre.org.nz
Address Bernard Street, Addington, Christchurch