Having set the bar very high with their previous production, Apples in Winter, LynchPin Productions return with a new play penned by Claire Parker. In The Vegan Tigress, Parker steps onto the stage alongside Edie Campbell for a darkly witty re-imagining of the later years of real-life Victorian writer and suffragist, Mary de Morgan. You may well not have heard of de Morgan, who has been rather lost in history in comparison with male contemporaries such as George Bernard Shaw and Rudyard Kipling. Parker’s play seeks to change all that, giving us a glimpse into this fascinating fairytale writer who becomes the star of a brand new story.
In that story, de Morgan (Claire Parker) inadvertently summons the ghost of her spurned lover’s mother, Lady Tuttle (Edie Campbell), much to their mutual displeasure. Each stuck in a limbo of their own, the polar opposite pair become reluctant roommates in de Morgan’s humble residence as the writer finds herself on the cusp of a life-changing adventure.
It’s a highly entertaining two-hander with compelling performances from the two versatile actors who keep the audience engaged throughout the well-paced play. Campbell is hilarious as the ascerbic aristocrat, Lady Tuttle, matched by Parker as the frugal but feisty de Morgan.
Although primarily a comedy, there is real depth to the story which interweaves one of de Morgan’s own fairytales to create a layered narrative that explores morality, mortality and personal legacy. Laced with social commentary on class, capitalism and feminism, it’s a clever piece of writing that gives the audience a real sense of the woman behind the words, honouring de Morgan’s writing in a fresh format.
It’s a fitting tribute to an almost-forgotten writer, highlighting the enduring power of storytelling to not just keep memories alive but even revive them. Another success from the small but mighty LynchPin Productions who are steadily carving out their own legacy.
The Vegan Tigress plays at The Bread & Roses Theatre, Clapham from 18 February to 1 March 2025. We received a complimentary ticket to the press performance on 20 February.