Pat Boothman
Actress
Reviews
ELLA’S SECRET
Harris Freedman’s play tells a familiar story of the horror, displacement and trauma suffered by survivors of Nazi terror. What distinguishes Ella’s Secret from many of the others, however, is the blurred line it creates between guilt and innocence and how the re-telling of even catastrophic periods of history can be skewed to fit the storyteller’s version of events.
Both Pat Boothman and Peggy Mahon do a great job of conveying the complexity of the dilemma with passion, sensitivity and warmth.
QUARTET
Pat Boothman offers such a believable ‘diva’ that one is almost tempted to verbally silence her from the audience – but then she shows equally such vulnerability and underlying fragility, that the urge is quickly laid to rest.
Alan Argue, Ontario Canada
BLITHE SPIRIT
The rather inept, somewhat dotty spiritualist Madame Arcati, is a character an actress can sink her teeth into – and when Pat Boothman sinks her teeth into character, watch out, because helpless laughter inevitably ensues.
The Advocate Ontario, Canada
THE SHADOW BOX
But the most exacting role belongs to Pat Boothman. Her feisty, wheelchair-bound Felicity alternates between rage over her plight and the fragility of an elderly blind woman slipping into senility.
David Phair
South China Morning Post (Hong Kong)
HOW THE OTHER HALF LOVES
The two cast members who steal the show however, are Pat Boothman and Aaron Marcus, who play the hapless Mary and William Featherstone.
Boothman is stellar as Mary. Her ability to maintain a straight face during the funniest parts of dialogue is beyond belief, and her vacant stare and numerous uncomfortable silences have the audience in stitches.
Ted Brown
The Independent (Ontario, Canada)
OUTSIDE EDGE
Both actresses tackle their roles with relish and while Sandra Duncan has the best lines and is afforded the greatest possiblity for offbeat characterisation, the success of her memorable performance as Maggie is partly attributable to the comedy skills of Boothman.
Jeremy Dowson
The Cape Argus (South Africa)
DIPLOMATIC BAGGAGE
Pat Boothman is delicieuse as a foreign diplomat’s wife who speaks no English.
Derek Wilson
The Cape Argus (South Africa)