Switzerland

by Joanna Murray-Smith

Somewhere in the Swiss alps, a grande dame of best-selling crime literature lives with an impressive collection of books, and a somewhat sinister collection of guns and knives. She finds solace in her seclusion, her cats and cigarettes. But when a mysterious international visitor barges in to her home unannounced, will her love of fictional murders become a dangerous reality?

Genres: Plays, Theatre

47 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 25, 2016

About the author

Australian playwright.

Reviews

[Alessia]

hmmm Switzerland I have a lot of thoughts. You are a good play but I resent you in many ways.

[Rose · Rating 2 out of 5]

i hate you switzerland how dare you have so much for me to memorise

[Doug · Rating 4 out of 5]

The impetus for reading this is that there is a forthcoming film adaptation, starring the formidable Helen Mirren as novelist Patricia Highsmith, which was more than enough to pique my interest. It's difficult to write a full-length play with only two characters, and although this is relatively short (only 40 pages), the playwright does a bang-up job in sustaining interest and tension - and has a dynamite twist at the end I did not see coming. It's also LOL funny, something I had not expected, but there are a surfeit of great one-liners.

The play has been 'opened up' for the film, with several subsidiary characters, so I have fingers crossed they don't destroy what is so special about the stage version.

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[Steve · Rating 3 out of 5]

Probably a 2.5 rounded up for those who have a particular interest in Patricia Highsmith and/or The Talented Mr. Ripley. I do not, so it seemed rather thin and unimportant to me. It’s a short play, so at least it doesn’t drag on and on. The writing is a little heavy handed in wanting to make various points about modernity and the profession of writing. One of the initial productions starred Laura Linney, and I imagine she was the primary (if not only) draw for audiences. Without an actress of that wattage, I’m not sure how bright this shines. But, It’s so broadly camp at times, I’d enjoy seeing a mature drag queen like Coco Peru chewing the scenery as Patricia.

[Kerry · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wasn't super impressed initially , but I persevered and it was worth it. The end certainly justifies the means!

[Wren · Rating 4 out of 5]

Patricia Highsmith is a mesmerising character to observe. I came out of the play understanding very little about her, which I believe is what she would have wanted.