“ROSALIE: That’s a lie.
MADAME ROSEPETTLE: Life is a lie, my sweet. Not words but life itself. Life in all its ugliness. It builds green trees that tease your eyes and draw you under them. Then when you’re there in the shade and you breathe in and say, “Oh God, how beautiful,” that’s when the bird on the branch lets go his droppings and hits you on the head. Life, my sweet, beware. It isn’t what it seems.”
Madame Rosepette. She’s outrageous, unrelenting, and let’s face it probably beyond redemption. And yet, despite her over-the-top narcissism and obsession with control, something about her stuck with me. A few of her lines hit a little too close to home, pushing me to reflect on the way we cling to people, power, and illusions sometimes all at once.
She’s the kind of character who dominates every room she’s in, mostly by tearing everyone else down. Her son, poor Jonathan, is more prisoner than a child. It’s not just emotional manipulation; it’s a full-on psychological lockdown. The way she clings to him as if any step he takes away is a betrayal reminded me of the kind of dependency that looks like love but feels more like entrapment. And Jonathan? Helplessly attached. Freud would’ve had field day.
What makes this play so fascinating isn’t just the twisted mother-son dynamic. Its absurdity mirrors real life in the strangest, sharpest ways. The comedy is surreal, but the emotions are painfully familiar. At times, I found myself laughing then crying because a line or a gesture felt like it had wandered in from my own life. Jonathan’s stammering around his mother, for example, isn’t just a nervous tic; it’s the weight of years of emotional pressure distilled into one physical reaction. That kind of detail? That’s powerful storytelling.
I won’t spoil the rest and really, no summary could do justice to the experience of reading or watching this play. If any of this sparks your curiosity, don’t wait. Let the absurdity pull you in.
Finally, I would like to extend my sincere gratitude and deepest respect to Dr. Özlem. Her guidance led me to discover this remarkable work, and for that, I am truly thankful.
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