Character on the couch
Each week we offer one of drama's great characters some counselling. Today Giselle is played by Simone Clarke. The analyst is Leo Benedictus.
Good morning, Giselle. How are you?
I'm feeling a little bit dead.
I'm sorry to hear that. Why?
Well, it's my first day in the underworld and I'm finding it a bit tiring.
I see ... So you mean literally dead?
Yes, I died yesterday of a broken heart. I'd been going out with Albrecht, this boy from the village. He said he wanted to marry me, and I believed him. But then I discovered he was actually a prince and engaged to a countess. I got very upset, and just kind of lost control. I don't really remember much after that - except that I saw these white ghostly-type women floating in the air, a bit like the ones I'm living with at the moment.
So you feel you're surrounded by ghostly women?
Yes, that's right; they're called Wilis, and they hate men. Like me, they were all engaged to someone who had lied to them. I haven't really settled in yet, though, as I've only just arrived.
Mmm. The first day in a new job is always stressful.
Yes, and it's a bit tricky because they actually killed my best friend Hilarion when he came to visit me.
That can't have helped.
No. He came to lay some flowers on my grave, where he met the queen of the Wilis, and she killed him.
And how did you feel about her behaviour?
Well, I guess I'll be doing it soon. But I wouldn't let the queen kill Albrecht when he turned up. I kept distracting her, doing another dance and another dance. She couldn't concentrate. I don't think she'll hold a grudge against me.
It was your first day.
Yes, and she didn't really tell me what the rules were.
So now the plan is to spend the rest of eternity tormenting men?
I don't know. I feel like my soul is at peace now. Maybe I could be a nice Wili? I could put a notice up on the forest gates saying, "Don't come in after dark."
Can you actually put notices up, as a ghost?
Well, I can fly. And I can handle flowers and things like that. But no, I'm not very tangible right now.
· Simone Clarke is appearing in Giselle at the Theatre Royal, Bath, until March 25. Box office: 01225 448844.