That Face (Polly Stenham)

This section explores the play That Face by Polly Stenham, focusing on: the structure, setting, staging, characters, themes and the historical and cultural context of the play. That Face is a 2007 debut play by British playwright Polly Stenham. It is a dark, provocative exploration of a dysfunctional family, centred around the complex dynamics between a mother, Martha, and her two children, Mia and Henry. The play examines issues of mental illness, family breakdown, privilege, and the damaging effects of love and neglect.

The play is known for its raw, disturbing portrayal of a family in crisis and its sharp, often biting dialogue. It was well received in London, marking Stenham as a significant new voice in British theatre.

Historical and Cultural Context

• Post-2000 British Theatre: That Face emerged during a period when British theatre was increasingly focusing on social realism, exploring issues like family dysfunction, class divisions, and the emotional and psychological challenges faced by individuals. The late 2000s saw an increase in the representation of middle-class disintegration, particularly in plays about families in crisis.
• Mental Health Awareness: The play is also a product of growing discussions around mental health in society. Martha, the mother, suffers from a mental illness that affects her ability to function as a parent, and this is a central theme of the play. In the 2000s, there was increasing awareness and dialogue about mental health, though stigma and misunderstanding still persisted.
• Social Class and Privilege: The Maxwells, the central family in That Face, are wealthy, but their privilege is shown to mask significant emotional and psychological problems. This critique of privilege and social class, particularly among the upper-middle class, is a critical aspect of the play’s social commentary.
• Family Dysfunction: The play also reflects a broader cultural interest in family dysfunction and the impacts of absent or toxic parenting. In a time when stories about troubled families were becoming more common in popular culture, Stenham’s play explored the generational breakdown of relationships within a wealthy family, a trend seen in many other contemporary works.

Structure

• Act Structure: The play is structured in two acts, with rapid scene changes that create a sense of urgency and tension. The first act sets up the key familial tensions and introduces the audience to the characters’ struggles, while the second act escalates these issues, leading to a dramatic and emotional conclusion.
• Time Frame: The narrative takes place over a short, compressed time period. The action is set in the present day, though the play often references the past through flashbacks, especially when delving into the family’s backstory and Martha’s past behaviour as a mother.
• Non-linear Narrative: There are moments in the play when the characters’ memories and experiences are revealed in a fragmented, non-linear fashion. This allows Stenham to show how the past haunts the present, particularly in terms of family dynamics, creating a sense of confusion and instability that mirrors the characters’ emotional states.
• Real-time Dialogue: The play's dialogue is fast-paced and direct, which emphasises the rawness and chaos within the family. The characters often speak over one another or interrupt each other, a stylistic choice that mirrors the breakdown of communication in the family.

Setting

• Location: The entire play takes place in the Maxwell family’s luxurious but decaying house, which becomes a symbol of the family’s breakdown. The house, once a symbol of wealth and status, now feels oppressive and claustrophobic. The space is used to reinforce the themes of decay, both physical and emotional, within the family.
• The Living Room: The primary setting for much of the action, the living room is a space where the family’s dysfunction is played out. It is often shown as a comfortable but ultimately suffocating space, where the family members interact with one another in intense, often violent ways. The space also represents the emotional entrapment of the characters, particularly Mia and Henry, who are trapped by their mother’s illness and their inability to escape the home.
• Symbolism of the House: The setting of the house itself is highly symbolic. The decaying, cluttered house represents the disintegration of the family unit. The presence of objects from a former life of wealth and privilege suggests that the Maxwells were once a “picture-perfect” family, but that facade has crumbled. The house reflects the characters' psychological decay, with each room representing a different aspect of their dysfunction.

Characters

• Martha: The matriarch of the family, Martha is a complex and troubling figure. She is a mother who has failed her children emotionally, as she is mentally ill and incapable of fulfilling the role of a nurturing, stable parent. Her psychological state is deteriorating, and she is often selfish, manipulative, and emotionally abusive. Her inability to care for her children has left deep scars, particularly on Mia and Henry, and her behaviour throughout the play is erratic, vacillating between neediness, control, and neglect.
• Mia: Martha’s teenage daughter, who is the central character in the play. Mia is intelligent and assertive, but her life has been shaped by her mother’s neglect and emotional abuse. She is deeply damaged, unable to form healthy relationships, and obsessed with her appearance and social status. Her relationship with her mother is characterised by resentment and codependence. Mia represents the cycle of dysfunction in the family and the way that children are often forced to grow up too quickly in the absence of proper care.
• Henry: Martha’s son, who is in his early twenties. Henry is quieter than Mia but equally affected by his family’s dysfunction. He is emotionally distant and passive, unable to stand up to his mother or deal with the complexity of his feelings. His relationship with Martha is a mix of guilt, love, and frustration. Henry’s character highlights the impact of parental neglect on sons, who often struggle to articulate their pain and vulnerability.
• Isaac: Mia’s boyfriend, who plays a more minor role in the play. Isaac provides an external perspective on the Maxwells, but he is largely passive in the play’s action. His presence contrasts with the family’s dysfunction, but he also fails to make a meaningful impact on Mia’s life, reflecting her inability to connect with others.
• The Nanny: The nanny is another minor character who serves as a contrast to the dysfunction of the family. Her presence in the house highlights the way that the family hides its problems from the outside world, creating a facade of normalcy while everything inside is falling apart.

Themes

• Mental Illness and Parental Neglect: One of the central themes of That Face is the impact of mental illness on family relationships. Martha’s mental state is a major source of tension, and her inability to function as a mother leaves her children emotionally scarred. The play explores the destructive impact of neglect and how mental illness can affect family dynamics, especially when there is no support system in place.
• Dysfunctional Families: The play portrays a deeply dysfunctional family where the lines between love and abuse are blurred. It examines how family members cope with emotional pain and how their actions perpetuate cycles of damage. The Maxwells’ inability to communicate effectively and their mutual dependency creates a toxic environment.
• Class and Privilege: Despite being wealthy, the Maxwells’ lives are marked by emotional deprivation and psychological trauma. The contrast between their social status and their emotional dysfunction is a key theme. The play critiques the idea that money and privilege can shield people from real emotional and psychological struggles.
• Power and Manipulation: Throughout the play, characters engage in power struggles, particularly Martha, who manipulates her children and others to maintain control. The emotional and psychological power dynamics between the characters are central to the conflict, with each character vying for control or validation.
• Identity and Self-Worth: Mia’s obsession with her appearance and social status reflects a deeper crisis of identity and self-worth. Both Mia and Henry struggle to form their identities outside of the shadow of their mother’s influence. The play suggests that the inability to form a healthy sense of self, especially in the context of family dysfunction, can lead to emotional and psychological harm.
• Revenge and Redemption: A recurring theme is the characters’ desire for revenge and redemption. There are moments of violent confrontation, both emotional and physical, in which characters seek to exact revenge for past wrongs. The play ultimately leaves some questions unanswered about whether redemption is possible for the family.

Staging and Performance

• Realistic and Intimate Staging: That Face is typically staged in a naturalistic style, with the action set in a family home. The intimate setting reflects the personal nature of the drama, drawing the audience into the emotional turmoil of the characters. The space is often designed to look cluttered, decaying, and oppressive, mirroring the characters’ emotional states.
• Intense Character-driven Performance: The play requires strong, dynamic performances from the actors, particularly in conveying the psychological depth of the characters. The emotional highs and lows of the characters must be captured with precision, as the play is driven by intense, often volatile interactions between family members.
• Symbolic Use of Space: The physical space within the set often reflects the emotional boundaries of the characters. The breakdown of the family is mirrored in the disordered, suffocating environment of the house. The characters’ emotional confinement is emphasised through the way they occupy the space—often isolated, yet unable to escape from one another.

Summary

That Face is a provocative and unsettling exploration of a privileged family in emotional crisis. Polly Stenham’s raw, unflinching portrayal of mental illness, familial dysfunction, and the complexity of love makes it a powerful work of contemporary British theatre. Through its sharp dialogue, vivid characters, and dark themes, the play forces the audience to confront uncomfortable truths about the limits of family, the consequences of neglect, and the damaging effects of privilege and emotional abuse.