Visit from an Unknown Woman ★★★ Hampstead Theatre | Jun 21 - Jul 27, 2024


Visit from an Unknown Woman is a stage adaptation of Stefan Zweig's epistolary novella Letter from an Unknown Woman. It is the story of a young girl who conceives a passion for a cultured, libertine writer who is her neighbour. When she becomes older she pursues him, even though he does not remember their brief encounters. It is only on their last evening together that she explains the history of her unrequited love. This narrative is not an early twentieth century version of Fatal Attraction. Marianne accepts her beloved's indifference, but she continues to worship him. This story has more in common with the German tradition of sentimental tales of love disappointed going back to The Sorrows of Young Werther. The twist here is that the writer probably represents the Austrian society that Jewish Zweig grew up in, but which, with the rise of Nazism, he is now being forced to realise has been indifferent to his adoration. It is a thin, wistful metaphor that doesn't really make for very compelling theatre. Christopher Hampton's adaptation of Zweig's work is rich in atmosphere and long on talk. Jessie Gattward does an excellent job of walking the fine line of radiating an obsessive passion without creating a stalker vibe. She somehow manages to remain sympathetic in her monomania – no small task given popular contemporary readings of such characters. As Stefan, the equally dedicated artist and sybarite, James Corrigan brings a nice insouciance to his part while at the same time still remaining empathetic. With Visit from an Unknown Woman, Director, Chelsea Walker has created a tone poem that is a polished evocation of Zweig's original work, but it is a rather slight, monotonal composition which won't suit everyone.

Rated: ★★★

Reviewed by J.C.
Photo by Marc Brenner

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