Betsy Abell's (nee Balcombe) life was characterised by high society connections, betrayal, borderline destitution and the ability to adapt to circumstances which may have brought many others undone.
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It is fortunate for audience goers that Mrs Abell was afforded the opportunity to relay the many ups and downs of her life through her published prose.
When the play begins, we find Betsy and her mother, Jane Balcombe, sequestered in their Sydney residence, where they entertain Mrs Maria Baxter; the wife of the newly appointed Attorney General of New South Wales, Alexander Baxter. During this exchange we learn Betsy is an adept musician and who is not averse to a metaphoric turn of phrase; most of which she applies to her descriptions of her time spent in the company of Napoleon Bonaparte, the man himself. On the other hand, Mrs Maria Baxter displays strong prejudices to anything French; particularly the now deceased ex-French Emperor.
The connection between Betsy, a Bungonia resident in later life, and the very famous French military leader is expanded upon by the play's narrator, Mrs Edward Eyre (played by Annie Bilton) and the various characters which populate Bilton's historical drama.
All characters are ably played by the performers, who in some cases take on multiple roles and multiple accents.
Martin Sanders brings to life no less than three characters; each demanding significant adjustment in voice and movement. Sanders brings these characters to life with aplomb.
Blake Selmes has the challenging job of distinguishing between two very different men, who are both named Edward. Selmes' nuanced performance ensures that these distinctions are not only believable, but compelling.
Cathy Dowd's turn as Mrs Baxter is quite remarkable considering this is her debut stage performance. Dowd employs a believable accent and her body language reinforces what other characters discover and say about her.
Special mention should also be made of Lily McKellar's performance as Betsy Abell's daughter Bessie. Her commitment to the role, her fine character work and her chemistry with Erin Williams' Betsy Abell are some of the highlights of the play.
Indeed, a scene in the middle of the play between Williams, McKellar and Christine Bentley's Jane Balcombe, both comedic and dramatic by turns, was incredibly well paced and acted.
Of course, the driving force throughout the entire play is Ms Williams' Mrs Abell. Through Williams' fine performance we are made only too aware of the cruelty that could be shown towards women in the mid 19th Century and how such indifference by men to their female counterparts could have devastating consequences. However, we also see just how strong a person Betsy Abell was. It is testament to her resilience that this story could be told today, and it is testament to Ms Williams' lead performance that we feel we get not only to know this character, but also hope for her success.
The Interesting Mrs Abell opens on Friday, April 16, at Lieder Theatre and continues for two weeks. Bookings can be made here.
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