The life of Coco Chanel was never to be as simple as her iconic little black dress – although at times it was infused with the singular darkness of pitch tar.
For a woman who liberated female sensuality, hers was a story of personal repression, contradiction and hidden secrets.
Even in death she left more questions than answers.
Self-identification
That was the feeling you were left with at the end of Allan Withington’s fascinating production – and deliberately so you felt as he cleverly unstitched the carefully constructed carapace of self-identification that enabled her to command an astringent, solitary public persona without once revealing her emotional heart.
17 episodic snapshots of her life were seamlessly linked to bring the story to life – narrated by a pair of lugubriously masked Swiss bankers, each revealing by measure, their own stories (and perhaps of us all) of unfulfilled personal and artistic ambition along the way.
The inventively integrated elements saw Manger Musikklag provide a subtle accompanying score to give complementary wit and pathos to the viscous choreography, enabling the emerging storyline to keep its focussed linear development.
As a result Withington was able to make Chanel an elusive cipher; an enigma that was always (if not literally) in plain sight; forever moving with the times, but somehow remaining remarkably untouched.
Elusive cipher
As a result Withington was able to make Chanel an elusive cipher; an enigma that was always (if not literally) in plain sight; forever moving with the times, but somehow remaining remarkably untouched.
In the end her life never quite seemed fulfilled, despite the accolades and her ability to ignore the sycophants. It perhaps explained the inner strength of character despite her failings – especially an almost self-destructive attraction to some truly horrible men.
It also reminded you that even though fashion fades, her unique style has remained resolute and triumphant – the modern day hand bag branding a monogrammed byword for a certain type of timeless elegance.
Very much like this hugely enjoyable production.
Iwan Fox
