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27-30 May 2010, by Bryony Lavery, directed by Helen Gilligan
Evelyn and Peter have a wonderful marriage but a test comes in the form of Evelyn’s progression into dementia. Meanwhile, a chance encounter at a wedding finds their daughter Sally in a bathroom cubicle with Grace, leading her to revise her casual attitude to love, marriage and relationships. Cast
Evelyn – Madeline McCubbin Peter – Andrew Haggerty Sally – Lana Beckwith Grace – Cynthia Hearing Robin – Patrick Neylan Director – Helen Gilligan Sound & Light – Norman Bailey Designer – Pat Walls Stage Manager – Anne Allocca Deputy Stage Management – Phil George, Rachel Larnder Assistant Stage Manager – Emily Edmunds |
Review in Chelsfield Village Voice
Looking at the synopsis, I really was not sure I was going to enjoy the May production A Wedding Story by Bryony Lavery, about a family dealing with Alzheimer’s. I knew that the play description had put off a number of regular patrons from seeing it, probably expecting a harrowing tale.
The play portrayed the contrast between the lifelong unconditional love shown by Evelyn and Peter and the unwillingness of their daughter Sally to commit to her new found partner Grace and the failure of son Robin’s marriage and separation from his children. The two grown up children were afraid of and unprepared for their new roles as carers but by the end of the play had taken everything in their stride including Sally’s commitment to a civil partnership with Grace. It was good to see some strong female roles.
Madeleine McCubbin, as Evelyn, gave an excellent and sensitive portrayal of an intelligent doctor’s decline due to Alzheimer’s and Andrew Haggerty’s Peter had the audience’s whole-hearted sympathy as he showed a gradual wearing down and loss of self-control. As daughter Sally, Lana Beckwith slipped effortlessly in and out of role as she narrated throughout the play. She portrayed the conversion of cynicism to commitment with conviction. With a small cast of only five the play must have been very demanding for the main characters to perform.
The play flowed seamlessly from scene to scene using sharp and witty dialogue. There were often four or five characters on stage but not all taking part. The action would pass smoothly from one couple to another as the subject changed. I’m sure we all found the moments of humour a welcome relief from the distress and sadness affecting the characters.
An emotional ending was helped by the well chosen Billy Joel song – ‘She’s Always a Woman to Me’, now with a wider audience with its recent use in a TV advertisement.
The inclusion of wedding cake with the intermission tea was a nice touch as was the raising of donations for the Alzheimer’s Society.
Overall this was an enjoyable heart warming play that worked well. I thought it the best Players’ production I had seen for quite some time. Those residents who were put off by its challenging subject missed a treat. In common with Evelyn, Casablanca is one of my favourite films too!
A view from the stalls
Looking at the synopsis, I really was not sure I was going to enjoy the May production A Wedding Story by Bryony Lavery, about a family dealing with Alzheimer’s. I knew that the play description had put off a number of regular patrons from seeing it, probably expecting a harrowing tale.
The play portrayed the contrast between the lifelong unconditional love shown by Evelyn and Peter and the unwillingness of their daughter Sally to commit to her new found partner Grace and the failure of son Robin’s marriage and separation from his children. The two grown up children were afraid of and unprepared for their new roles as carers but by the end of the play had taken everything in their stride including Sally’s commitment to a civil partnership with Grace. It was good to see some strong female roles.
Madeleine McCubbin, as Evelyn, gave an excellent and sensitive portrayal of an intelligent doctor’s decline due to Alzheimer’s and Andrew Haggerty’s Peter had the audience’s whole-hearted sympathy as he showed a gradual wearing down and loss of self-control. As daughter Sally, Lana Beckwith slipped effortlessly in and out of role as she narrated throughout the play. She portrayed the conversion of cynicism to commitment with conviction. With a small cast of only five the play must have been very demanding for the main characters to perform.
The play flowed seamlessly from scene to scene using sharp and witty dialogue. There were often four or five characters on stage but not all taking part. The action would pass smoothly from one couple to another as the subject changed. I’m sure we all found the moments of humour a welcome relief from the distress and sadness affecting the characters.
An emotional ending was helped by the well chosen Billy Joel song – ‘She’s Always a Woman to Me’, now with a wider audience with its recent use in a TV advertisement.
The inclusion of wedding cake with the intermission tea was a nice touch as was the raising of donations for the Alzheimer’s Society.
Overall this was an enjoyable heart warming play that worked well. I thought it the best Players’ production I had seen for quite some time. Those residents who were put off by its challenging subject missed a treat. In common with Evelyn, Casablanca is one of my favourite films too!
A view from the stalls