As a drama concerning the literary canon’s most well-known sisters, Underdog explores the prickly edges of aggressive sisterhood, first with a passing jibe at Jane Austen (for making it on to a banknote), then a fuller indictment by Charlotte (Gemma Whelan) who, in scarlet interval gown and gen Z boots, tells us: “Younger ladies choose older ladies extra harshly than anyone else … They’re conditioned to.”
Sarah Gordon’s play offers with writerly competitors between the sisters themselves, though it’s Charlotte who’s most preoccupied by it. The older sister is a maternal determine to youthful Anne (Rhiannon Clements) but additionally a ruthless rival when Anne’s literary fame dangers eclipsing hers, and knifes each sisters strategically whereas talking of sorority.
Directed with tempo by Natalie Ibu, it’s a figuring out period-modern mashup, joshing in tone and taking a danger in turning Charlotte into an unlikable, albeit brutally sincere, anti-heroine. Actually, this play appears to be extra about Charlotte than the “different different” sister of its title. She is its central narrator, and we enter her thoughts over that of candy, unassuming Anne and no-nonsense Emily (Adele James) whereas Branwell (James Phoon), their wayward drunken brother, barely will get a look-in past being drunken and wayward.
We hear how she edits Emily’s poetry after her dying and prevents a reprint of Anne’s hottest novel, The Tenant of Wildfell Corridor, though we additionally see that beneath this lies nice ambition and a firebrand craving to change into as immortal because the likes of Byron.
It actually raises points between Charlotte and Anne, however Emily appears little greater than a foil to them somewhat than turning into part of the competitors, regardless of her magnum opus in Wuthering Heights, which introduced its personal scandal on publication.
Gordon’s script bounces alongside, albeit with some evident modern-day classes on masculinity and inequality tacked on. It’s quick-witted and amusing although it by no means deepens sufficient for the emotional punches to land.
The forged is stuffed with fireplace nonetheless and the publicity of envy and competitors beneath the Brontës’ sisterliness is mirrored in the visible metaphor of Grace Sensible’s set which consists of a verdant floral mound uprooted at first to disclose darkish matter beneath.
