Obsession
“But I can assure you, no one has ever loved you as slavishly and as devotedly as I did – and as I still do. ”
Marianne
![](https://theatrevibe.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/James-Corrigan-and-Natalie-Simpson-in-Visit-from-an-Unknown-Woman_credit-Marc-Brenner_1397-1024x683.jpg)
This slim play is derived by Christopher Hampton from Stefan Zweig’s novella where an unknown woman writes a letter to a man with whom she has a history, although he cannot remember her. Moving the original from 1922 to 1934, details from some of Stefan Zweig’s life are included in this play. He was a Jewish writer living in Vienna and 1934 of course sees the rise of Hitler and anti-semitism in Germany and Austria, impacting on his popularity.
The bulk of this play is about the woman’s account, most of which is news to the writer. Natalie Simpson plays Marianne and the writer, here named, Stefan is James Corrigan who took over the part from Thomas Levin, who was unable to continue after a few minutes on press night a couple of weeks ago.
Marianne has met Stefan in a nightclub and come home with him, leaving her coat behind. Apparently she was the guest of another man and was too timid to ask for her cloakroom ticket. We suspect she didn’t tell her escort that she was leaving.
![](https://theatrevibe.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Natalie-Simpson-and-James-Corrigan-in-Visit-from-an-Unknown-Woman_credti-Marc-Brenner_2-768x512.jpg)
After a night of supposed passion, Marianne recounts her bizarre history with the author. She used to live in an adjoining apartment and from a young age was fascinated by the author. The real Stefan Zweig was well known in the 1920s and 1930s. What she did, we would nowadays describe as stalking but that is too censorious a word as she seemed to have the innocence of a child. Another actress (Jessie Gatward) plays Marianne’s younger self who haunts the proceedings in movement from Matthew Bourne’s collaborator, Michela Meazza.
It seems that they met when Marianne was 18, ten years before but unusually Stefan has no memory of this. The implication is that he was very promiscuous and doesn’t remember his sexual encounters, even those with women determined to seduce him. The performances are very good but the play is word heavy, even for its 70 minutes running time and it is hard to feel involved with this story of obsession and secrecy.
As a post script, in 1934 Stefan Zweig moved to London and in 1940, to New York. In 1942 he and his wife committed double suicide in Brazil.
![](https://theatrevibe.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/James-Corrigan-Natalie-Simpson-and-Jessie-Gatward_credit-Marc-Brenner-768x512.jpg)
Production Notes
Visit From An Unknown Woman
Written by Christopher Hampton aster Stefan Zweig’s novella
Directed by Chelsea Walker
Cast
Starring:
James Corrigan
Natalie Simpson
Nigel Hastings
Jessie Gattward
Creatives
Director: Chelsea Walker
Designer: Rosanna Vize
Movement Design: Michele Meazza
Lighting Designer: Bethany Gupwell
Composer: Max Perryment
Sound Director: Peter Rice
Information
Running Time: One hour and 10 minutes without an interval
Booking to 27th July 2024
Theatre:
Hampstead Theatre
Eton Avenue
Swiss Cottage
Tube: Swiss Cottage
Reviewed
by Lizzie Loveridge at
Hampstead Theatre
on 15th July 2024