As a proud Yorkshire girl, I thought I knew quite a lot about the Brontë’s. I’ve visited Howarth a lot, gone around their house and walked the route that supposedly inspired Wuthering Heights. However, Wasted is the Bronte’s as you’ve never seen them before. In this new rock documentary, we are given an access-all-areas account of the struggles, heartbreak and triumph of the Brontë siblings; Charlotte, Emily, Anne and Branwell. It is dark and gritty show, but a lot of fun to watch, as the Brontë’s ask: was it all Wasted?
The show begins with the Brontë’s sat round the table complaining about being “Stuck in Howarth” with each sibling interrupting with short monologues. From the first song the talent of Carl Miller (Book and Lyrics) shines through. The songs are grungy, deep capturing the rock element of the show. They are also witty, clever and in some places hysterical.
The set design (Libby Todd) is simple but effective. The stage remains the same throughout the show, it’s a simple square with each sibling inhabiting one corner (when they are all on stage together). The most effective part of the staging is the use of microphones, which are used in the traditional way, as pens and (spoiler) as symbolism when each sibling dies.
For me the highlight of Wasted is the incredible cast, lead by Natasha Barnes as the ambitious Charlotte Brontë. Barnes commands the stage as family matriarch Charlotte often directly addressing the audience and standing up to her siblings. She captures Charlotte’s desire for success and to be a published author, but also has a tender side. The show doesn’t shy away for depicting her unrequited love for Constantin Héger, whom she met as a governess in Belgium (something I learnt when watching Wasted!). This is done through a series of emotionally intense ballads, which Barnes executes flawlessly.
Molly Lynch as Anne Brontë is a delight. She encapsulates the Anne Brontë that we all know, clever, ambitious and religious but quieter than her siblings. Lynch has the most comedic moments in the show (there’s a rap in a French accent!) and her comedic timing is brilliant.
Matthew Jacobs Morgan (Branwell Brontë) captures the brooding nature that is often associated with Branwell, but the complex relationship with his sisters is missed out of the show altogether, as there is understandably a greater focus on Branwell’s sisters.
The true star of the show is Siobhan Athwal as the “Goth before her time”, Emily Brontë. Athwal’s portrayal of Emily is enchanting and haunting. Athwal fully embodies Emily, her quirky often misunderstood personality. For me Emily’s death is the most heart-breaking, she dies in a fit of rage and sadness believing that her work was a failure. I wanted to run onto the stage and tell her what a success Wuthering Heights is.
The only problem I have with Wasted is its length – 2 hours and 40 minutes. Some songs are repetitive or simply just too long. However, I have high hopes for the future of the show– this version of the Brontë siblings is one that needs to be seen by everyone. I don’t think we’ve seen the last of Wasted!
Words by Orla McAndrew.