It is 1848, and within London’s surgical golden age, two women convene in a parlour room initially to chat about life, husbands, and their daily routines. Yet, under the bland banality of life, the women are hiding a dark secret, one which is explored with great ferocity when a third woman arrives, along with a fresh body upstairs.
Penned by Sofia Genco, Disciples of Anatomy opens with a meeting between the mercurial Maud Fleming and the sweet, slightly dim Adelaide Hall. The history between the pair is teasingly explored as the play unfolds. What dominates their conversation, at least to begin with, is the high flying work of their successful surgeon husbands, with their bloody business seemingly of great interest to Maud (Genco), as is her fascination with Scottish graverobbers Burke and Hare.
Maud is also unique here as she is presented as neurodivergent. Genco’s writing does a terrific job of crafting Maud’s character with typically autistic traits, in a manner that is seamlessly yet still noticeably integrated into the role. Maud’s curious, outspoken nature is deflected by nervous gestures and frantic facial expressions, which combine neatly to form an inquisitive character whose inquiring mind puts her at odds with the expectations placed upon women in this era.
The discussions between Maud and Adelaide about their husbands’ gory work are enhanced by the claustrophobically small black box studio space, intensifying the spotlight upon women who appear to have more than just a small curiosity about their spouses’ professions. They even consider trying out the new drug chloroform as their wonder threatens to get the better of them.
Genco’s narrative twists when a bloodied Cassandra arrives seeking treatment, in turn exposing the shared histories between the women. What is most impressive here is that, despite the piece’s brevity, Genco’s writing is remarkably well layered. Thwaite’s arrival does not undermine the pace between the two protagonists, instead allowing the story to burn further.
It is also laced with great amounts of humour. Maud’s putdowns and comebacks are sharp and to the point, but the script also points towards the rigid expectations placed upon wives like Maud and Adelaide, balancing this deftly with the darker discussions that follow.
Disciples of Anatomy has terrific potential, and the inclusion of the neurodiverse Maud ensures this feels like a fresh and inventive exploration of the role of women in an age where male scientists were lauded.
