There is an acute observation of English manners and emotional repression, too, with much tea-drinking and talking about the weather. Memories that are shown to be tied to geography – streets and houses that become receptacles, maybe even proof, of past lives. A powerful scene that shows Bert scared and irascible towards the end of his life. Atmospheric musical interludes that include a cello concerto by Elgar arranged for the piano, and a rendition of Dido’s Lament by Purcell. The visually arresting back-screens that project family films (video design is by Megan Lucas). There are many beautiful qualities to this production, nevertheless. More of this is required but we are quickly back to placid scenes. Fiona explodes with resentment and this flashpoint sparks with tension and intensity. There is one fractious scene that stands out when David and Fiona, now separated, discuss their son Barney’s bad behaviour. Characters speak of ageing and mortality but this cannot make up for the lack of story and neither is it particularly profound. There is piano playing, red wine and conviviality.Įach scene brings a jump in time: Fiona and David separate, a new partner comes along in Rob (George Taylor), children grow up, grandparents die. Their musician son, David (David Ricardo-Pearce), occasionally rolls his eyes but his wife, Fiona (Naomi Petersen) listens raptly. Grandparents Bert (Robin Soans) and Peggy (Barbara Flynn) remember the war at the start and recount how they met. That, in the end, is the problem with this delicately crafted play, which seems like a series of sweet or poignant scenes.Īlso directed by Norris, its pace is meditative but undramatic despite instances that seem almost to veer towards an alternate reality – characters freeze or reach out theatrically and atmospheric music raises expectations – but nothing comes of it. And whatever family tensions there are between them are subsumed by greater warmth. Scenes are infused with affection but there is no substantially darker, sharper side to his characters.
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