ZadieSmith’sfirsttimewritingforthestage,ariotoustwenty-firstcenturytranslationofGeoffreyChaucer’sclassicTheWifeofBath“Marriedfivetimes.Mother.Lover.Aunt.Friend.Sheplaysmanyrolesroundhere.AndneverScaredtotellthewholeofhertruth,whetherOrnotanyonewantstohearit.WifeOfWillesden:pissedenoughtotellherlifeStorytowhoeverhasearsandeyes...“Inherstage-writingdebut,celebratednovelistandessayistZadieSmithbringstolifeacomedicandcuttingtwenty-firstcenturytranslationofGeoffreyChaucer’sclassicTheWifeofBath.TheWifeofWillesdenfollowsAlvita,aJamaican-bornBritishwomaninhermid-50s,asshetellsherlifestorytoabandofstrangersinasmallpubontheKilburnHighRoad.Wearingfakegoldchains,dressedinknock-offdesignerclothes,andspeakinginamixtureofLondonslangandpatois,Alvitarecallsherfivemarriagesinoutrageous,bawdydetail,rewriteshermistakesastriumphs,andsharesherbeliefsonfemininity,sexuality,andmisogynywithanyonewillingtolisten.Athoughtfulreimaginingofanunforgettablenarrativeoffemalesexualpower,writtenwithsingularverveandwit,TheWifeofWillesdenshowswhyZadieSmithisoneofthesharpestandmostversatilewritersworkingtoday.
