Colder Than Here (Laura Wade)

This section explores the play Colder Than Here by Laura Wade, focusing on: the structure, setting, staging, characters, themes and the historical and cultural context of the play. Colder Than Here is a dark comedy by Laura Wade, first performed in 2005. The play explores the impact of impending death on a family, as a wife and mother, Myra, is dealing with terminal cancer. Her decision to plan her own funeral and how her family reacts to it forms the crux of the narrative.

Historical and Cultural Context

• Written and Premiered: Colder Than Here premiered at the Soho Theatre in London in 2005. This was a period where British theatre was moving towards more intimate, character-driven narratives, with an increasing interest in exploring personal and family dynamics.
• Cancer Awareness: The play reflects a growing cultural interest in the realities of living with terminal illness, which was becoming more publicly discussed in the mid-2000s. The early 21st century saw a shift towards more open discussions about death, illness, and the need for individuals to take agency in their own lives and deaths.
• Family and Relationships: The play captures a post-1990s shift in family dynamics. It explores themes of emotional distance, unresolved familial tensions, and the generational divides in dealing with personal crises.

Structure

• Act Structure: The play is divided into two acts. The first act focuses on the family dynamics, where the tension around Myra's illness begins to build, while the second act brings a more reflective tone as the family members struggle with the idea of death and what Myra’s choices mean for them.
• Time Frame: The narrative unfolds over a series of days, building up to Myra’s eventual death. The play uses its time frame to heighten the tension and to allow the characters to reflect and evolve in response to Myra's condition.
• Non-linear Techniques: While the overall structure is chronological, the characters' reflections on the past and flashbacks are integrated into the present dialogue, often revealing deep emotional undercurrents. This use of non-linear time enhances the emotional depth of the play.

Setting

• Location: The play is set entirely in Myra’s home, which serves as a confined, intimate space. The living room, kitchen, and Myra's bedroom form the backdrop for the unfolding drama, reflecting the characters’ personal worlds being intertwined with Myra’s impending death.
• The Home as Symbol: The home is more than just a setting; it symbolises the family unit and its breakdown. The space feels cramped and uncomfortable at times, reflecting the internal emotional pressures the characters are under.
• Minimalist Staging: The staging is simple and realistic. The set design often focuses on the family’s personal belongings, which are important markers of their past and present lives. The spareness of the design highlights the emotional starkness of the situation.

Characters

• Myra: The central character, Myra is an older woman suffering from terminal cancer. Despite her illness, she is determined to plan her own funeral and to ensure that her family faces the reality of her death. She is direct, independent, and at times, a little combative. Myra’s determination to control her death highlights her need for autonomy in a world where she is losing control.
• Jem: Myra’s husband, who is awkward and emotionally distant. He struggles with the idea of death and has difficulty expressing his feelings. His reluctance to engage with Myra’s plans for her funeral exposes his fear and inability to confront emotional realities.
• Helen: Myra’s daughter, who has a strained relationship with her mother. Helen is sceptical of her mother’s ability to plan everything herself and is wary of the effect Myra's decisions will have on the family. Helen’s tension with Myra serves as a reflection of unresolved family conflict.
• Dan: Helen’s partner, who provides a contrast to the family members, often acting as a more neutral observer. He adds a layer of external perspective to the family drama, especially as he is less emotionally involved and can often see things more clearly.
• Danny: Myra’s son, who is mostly absent in the family drama, symbolising the emotional disconnect in the family. His inability to deal with Myra’s illness and death highlights the generational and emotional gaps that exist in the family.

Themes

• Death and Mortality: At its heart, Colder Than Here is a meditation on death. Myra’s terminal illness forces the family to confront their fears, regrets, and unresolved issues. The play presents a range of reactions to mortality, from denial and avoidance to acceptance and direct confrontation.
• Control and Power: A key theme in the play is the desire for control, particularly around the issue of death. Myra’s decision to plan her own funeral is an assertion of agency in a situation where she is losing control over her life. The family, particularly Jem and Helen, react to this assertion in different ways, reflecting their own desires to control aspects of their lives.
• Family Dynamics: The tension between family members is central to the drama. The play explores how illness and death can expose unresolved emotional issues within families. The characters’ varying levels of openness and their struggles to connect with one another highlight the complexity of familial relationships.
• Grief and Denial: While Myra is accepting of her death, the other characters are in varying states of denial and repression. Their inability or unwillingness to face their grief until forced to do so is a crucial thematic element. The play suggests that grief is often complicated by the difficulty of expression within families.
• Humour and Tragedy: The play balances dark comedy with tragic elements, highlighting the absurdity of the human condition in the face of death. Myra’s bluntness and the awkwardness of the family in handling her illness create moments of dark humour, yet these moments serve to underline the underlying tragedy of the situation.

Staging and Performance

• Naturalistic Style: The play is staged realistically, with a focus on naturalistic dialogue and character interactions. This choice highlights the intimate and personal nature of the story, making the audience feel like they are observing a real family in crisis.
• Character-Driven Action: The performances are key in communicating the emotional weight of the play. The characters’ silences and pauses are as important as their dialogue, with much of the emotional tension conveyed through body language and subtext.
• Space and Movement: The tight, confined setting creates a sense of claustrophobia, reinforcing the emotional and psychological pressure the characters are under. The use of space is crucial in expressing the isolation of individual characters and the way they distance themselves from one another.

Summary

Colder Than Here is a poignant and darkly humorous exploration of death, family, and the search for control in an uncontrollable situation. The play’s minimalist setting, naturalistic style, and complex characters invite audiences to reflect on their own relationships with mortality and family. By balancing the comedic and tragic elements, Laura Wade crafts a powerful and affecting narrative that remains relevant to contemporary issues surrounding death and the human condition.