***
In her calling as a soul midwife Antonia Rolls accompanies a dying person up to the point when they are collected by those that have gone before. She has God in her heart.
This show focused on the journey of the spirit and soul. It was very personal, with the deaths of her partner Steve, her brother Dominic, her friend Sue and her own mother, recounted with words, images and film.
It was not sentimental, it was a tender reflection.
"Everyone has a story of loss to tell but no one to tell it to." Antonia told her story in her quiet, becalmed voice.
The mystery and power of the final ten minutes of the dying; acceptance of death as the path to peace; a tantalising reference to "the subjective Jewish view of time" was made but not explained.
A lot was touched upon, too much for an emotional engagement to be established.
Rolls is not an actress yet she was on occasion asked to re-enact scenes.
Technically the music and props were intrusive and at this performance her lack of technical backup was distracting.
Her intention to comfort cannot be questioned, however the direction and script editing need urgent reconsideration.
Rolls is capable of expressing herself without fussy theatricality. Let her tell her story.
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