What damage can one lie do?
Can it ruin lives? Destroy relationships? Tear apart businesses? Or even cause death?
In The Children’s Hour, one girl’s lie causes all of the above.
The play, based on an actual 1810 court case in Scotland, presents a gut-wrenching and emotional story of a cruel and manipulative student who fabricates a tale of a lesbian affair between her two school mistresses. The fallout is catastrophic—lives are destroyed, trust is shattered, and a community is torn apart.
First performed in 1934, The Children’s Hour remains strikingly relevant today. Its exploration of human nature touches on themes we still face: the cruelty of a lie, the vulnerability of truth, and the devastating consequences of a malicious word.
The characters are people we have encountered at some point in our lives—from a young girl desperate for attention at any cost to a grandmother trying to spoil her grandchild and women trying to create a future for themselves, only to be cut down before they get there.
The strength of the play lies not just in the harrowing story but in its perfectly cast ensemble. The entire cast is extremely strong, with raw emotion and realistic portrayals bringing each character to life. Special mention would have to go to the three generations of women: the conniving Mary, played by Kim Clifton; the wronged school mistress, Martha, played by Jessica Bell; and the matriarch grandmother who unwittingly sets the lie free into the world, played by Annie Byron.
By the time the final curtain falls, the severity of the play’s message lingers in the air as you exit the safety of the theatre walls. The Children’s Hour forces the audience to confront the consequences of dishonesty and the fragility of truth. The question remains: would you ever lie again, knowing the damage it could cause?
The Children’s Hours runs until the 1st of March, this powerful production is a must-see. Don’t miss it.
To book tickets to The Children’s Hour, please visit https://www.oldfitztheatre.com.au/the-childrens-hour
Photographer: Phil Erbacher
This review also appears on It’s On The House. Check out more reviews at Whats The Show to see what else is on in your town.
