Mata Hari: Eroticism and Espionage

premiered at the Winnipeg Fringe Festival, 2009.

The play presented the life of Mata Hari, from her Paris debit in 1905, until her death by firing squad in 1917. Mata Hari styled herself as an Eastern dancer and quickly became the toast of Europe. She had many lovers in powerful places, but all of them denied her when she needed them most. However, she had an extraordinary life, at a time when most women were not allowed much of a life at all.

Produced by Talia Pura. See more in Actor and Playwright

Reviews

Mata Hari
Theatre on TAP (Venue 4, Onstage at the Playhouse Review posted: Sunday, July 19)
– John Kendle

Maragaretha Geertruida Zelle first entranced Parisian society in 1905 by presenting herself as Javanese, skilled in the arts of Eastern dance. In 1917 she was executed by the French army for being a double agent in World War One. These two facts are what is recalled whenever her name comes up. As presented in this excellent one-woman show by local playwright, actor, dancer and teacher Talia Pura, Mata Hari’s life and its end were far more complex. Pura’s temptress and courtesan is a woman whose life and ultimate fate were determined by circumstance; a charmer who used her wiles to sustain herself but who ignored the world beyond her scope. Pura tells Mata Hari’s tale with a mixture of monologue and dance, and she establishes her heroine’s sensuality right from the start with an enthralling striptease (to live sitar) which demonstrates just how titillating and exotic Mata Hari must have been to turn-of- the-20th-century Paris. For the next 90 minutes, Pura holds the audience rapt as she relates the tales of Mata Hari’s childhood, her rise to fame, her many love affairs and how she was recruited to spy for the French by Capt. Georges Ladoux. The costume changes are many, yet all are accomplished onstage, behind a screen, and Pura’s performance is utterly compelling.

Winnipeg Free Press Web Reviews

Spectacular! A beautifully written, magnificently acted play. Talia Pura shines as Mata Hari. The costumes and erotic dancing intertwined with the intelligence of the writing make this theatre experience compelling and riveting. I felt compassion for the character of Mata Hari as a woman who had to use her sexuality and beauty as a way to survive after her abuse into vulnerability and desperation. The play lingers with me afterwards and deepens my understanding. And Talia is a star to watch.

BRAVO!!! An outstanding play; beautifully written, magnificently acted, and the costumes are superb! Talia Pura is beyond an actress. Her insight into this mysterious historical woman left me with a compassionate understanding of this human being. With her exotic dancing, Talia mesmerizes and captivates. A bright shining star is born! If you don’t see this play, you will definitely miss a bright shining star is born! If you don’t see great engaging experience. A definite MUST SEE!

A continuously engaging and illuminating theatrical biography of a very intriguing historical figure. I love performances that hold my attention and give me the great takeaway of having learned something about someone.

CBC (Posted 2009/07/19 at 3:23 PM ET )

WOW! A great performance by Talia Pura in a great play about a mysterious woman in desperate times. I found myself truly engaged from beginning to end. What a superb and intelligent actress Talia is. With her exotic dancing to her range of comedy to tragedy, Talia entertains and educates with her beauty as a performer.

Excerpt

Click here to download the Mata Hari Excerpt as a PDF