The Duchess is the story of Wallis Simpson, the American socialite who ended up with the King of England, causing him to give up the throne. If you're not a history buff, you might recognize the story from the Oscar winning movie The King's Speech, in which Wallis and Edward appear as one of the side stories. Taking a more central look at this dramatic event in history is Madonna's film W.E. which explores what happened during that time.
In Linda Griffiths' The Duchess now playing at the Telus Studio Theatre at UBC, I guess I expected a bit more of the same. However, instead of a serious piece on Wallis, the show was more of a comedy most of the time, bordering on farce.
Guest blogger Elizabeth, who attended with me, writes about this production:
"It's an ambitious play that interprets in its own way this infamous time in England's history. Pippa Johnstone shines as the lead as she thrusts herself into the exciting role of Wallis Simpson and manages to make her compelling yet cunning."
If you are still hankering for that slice of Britain now that the London Olympics are over and you've already gone to see A Room With a View at Jericho, then The Duchess might be your perfect cup of tea.
The Duchess plays at UBC until October 6.
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