Helena Wilson and Maggie Bain in Linck & Mülhahn, Hampstead Theatre, Feb 2023. Photo: Helen Murray
Writer Ruby Thomas was within the British Library when she got here throughout a reference Linck and Mulhahn, a same-sex couple in 18th Century Prussia who’d been residing as husband and spouse.
Using what info she might discover as place to begin and imagining the remainder, Thomas has written a witty, effervescent and heartbreaking play about their relationship, secret life and the next outing.
It begins with Linck (Maggie Bain) residing as a person – Anastasius – so they could be a soldier and Catharina Mulhahn (Helena Wilson) preventing her mom’s makes an attempt to match her with an appropriate husband.
Anastasius is a talented soldier and well-respected. Catharina is rebellious, consistently pushing towards the boundaries society locations on her intercourse. An opportunity encounter at a dressmakers store sees the 2 verbally sparring; they fizzle and spark in one another’s firm.
There is an honesty of their biting, but playful, exchanges that ignites one thing. When Catharina, with typical forwardness, proposes marriage Anastasius has to disclose that they are not all they appear.
But Catharina is undeterred, and the 2 marry and arrange a house collectively. Anastasius, who has now left the military, works as a dressmaker’s apprentice and encourages Catharina to write down.
It is a blissful existence constructed on a basis of affection and equality till Catharina’s bored mom begins to dig into her ‘son’-in-law’s previous.
Helena Wilson, Maggie Bain, Lucy Black & Leigh Quinn in Linck & Mülhahn, Hampstead Theatre, Feb 2023. Photo: Helen Murray
Linck & Mulhahn is staged pretty merely. On a revolve are two white panelled partitions with a hall in between, and on one aspect is a white staircase. The set revolves to disclose new areas denoted by a number of items of furnishings and props.
Contemporary pop and rock tunes blast out, their lyrics acceptable, generally ironic. The manner Anastasius and Catharina reside as their true selves, albeit discreetly, additionally feels fashionable regardless of the interval costumes.
And that’s the irony that transgender and queer identities are considered by some as a ‘fashionable affectation’ when the truth is that they’ve simply been hidden from an unaccepting society.
Towards the top, a decide feedback that with out guidelines, there isn’t a fact. However, the principles adopted are primarily based on the perceptions of those that make them moderately than a common fact.
The first half of the play is effervescent, with a tone as joyous as the liberty Anastasius and Catherina really feel of their marriage. There are bubbles of laughter all through, notably in Catharina’s gender stereotype-busting backchat.
As the second half unfolds, the customarily farcical court docket scene results in heartbreaking tragedy.
I laughed, I grinned, and I cried whereas watching Linck & Mulhahn; I’m giving it ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.
Linck & Mulhahn, Hampstead Theatre
Written by Ruby Thomas
Directed by Owen Horsley
Running time: 2 hours and 25 minutes, together with an interval.
Booking till 4 March; for extra info and tickets, go to Hampstead Theatre’s web site
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