Inter Alia: Among Other Things
Following its sold-out run at the National Theatre, and a special livestream event earlier this month, Inter Alia returns to the Dukes. Australian playwright Suzie Miller introduces a brand-new work that, similarly to her recent hit Prima Facie, deals with the difficulties of navigating a career in law as an ambitious but compassionate modern woman. The title, a legal term meaning ‘among other things’, alludes to Jessica’s (Rosamund Pike) struggle to maintain her career as a Crown Court Judge alongside being a wife, mother, and individual.
It's hard not to be enamored by the brilliant Jessica as she allows us into her life. But before long, her world is thrown into chaos when a sexual assault case – the likes of which she deals with all the time – hits too close to home. The questions that Jessica is confronted with are complex and daunting, and her responses are sometimes surprising.
Miller, a former lawyer, infuses her script with professional knowledge, offering insight into legal processes as well as the everyday realities of working in law. She evades simplistic tropes of good and evil, giving space to multiple lines of argument (as a good judge would). The didactive narrative invites us into a fascinating conversation about the ethics of law, and how quickly opinions can change when it’s a loved one on the stand.
The poignant subject matter is sensitively balanced with moments of levity, with flashbacks to awkward parenting moments and a one-woman karaoke session. Jessica really has it all, but juggling the pieces is a full-time job. You can’t take your eyes off Pike’s energetic performance as she breezes from the courtroom to the kitchen, literally throwing off her judge’s wig and slipping into a party dress. It’s no wonder she doesn’t get a moment to breathe.
With a probable West End transfer around the corner, National Theatre Live offers the chance to see London’s play of the summer before it jets off to new horizons. If you enjoyed Prima Facie (or if you’re just a fan of great theatrical performances), this one might be for you!
Written by Jodie Passey
Showing at the Dukes from the 18th of September until the 12th of October.
