Review: Things I Know to be True- Forget the World Cup…
… all the drama you need is available on stage at the Unicorn Theatre, Abingdon at 7.30pm every evening until 20th June, courtesy of the Abingdon Drama Club in their final production at the theatre before it is closed for restoration.
ADC are to be applauded for bringing such a powerful and insightful play to the stage. This is an emotional and affecting production you should not miss.
The cleverly constructed script, by Andrew Bovell, is a powerful evocation of a family of four adult (not quite grown-up) children and their parents. Through a balance of monologue and sharp dialogue we are drawn into a story of family life which touches us all regardless of age or stage in life and reveals the truth articulated in the play that, “People aren’t perfect, especially the people we love.”
It is skilfully and sensitively directed by Lin Crowley, who carefully allows each of the characters to own the stage in their turn. The cast are to be commended both for mastering the art of stage stillness, so that the audience’s attention is rightly focused, and for delivering some exceptionally powerful monologues in which we are invited to explore the complicated dynamic of family life; marriage and sibling relationships.
Mention must be made of the staging – its monochrome simplicity in stark contrast to the vivid red of the roses, which take on increasing significance as the play progresses. It provides the perfect muted backdrop for the multi-coloured layers of vivid emotion to be explored.
Cecil Alexander, as Rosie, the youngest in the family, opens with a heart-rending articulation of the universal cry of young adults ‘When will life begin?’ and the production moves from strength to strength as each character in turn reveals the turmoil of their thoughts and motivations. Pip, played with deep empathy and tightly controlled inner turmoil by Rebecca Peberdy, draws us into the perspective of the least favoured child. Chris Bedford, as Mark, gives a subtly understated, but nonetheless powerful performance of someone struggling with their identity. Dave Fardon, playing Ben, produces a startling performance of someone whose life suddenly unravels in the most seismic fashion.
But it is to the parents that we look for the glue that holds both the family and this production together. Maria Crocker and Jon Crowley, as Fran and Bob respectively, give standout performances as a Mum who knows all the things her children don’t want her to know and a Father who married his childhood sweetheart and has never had his heart broken. Between them they cover the full range of emotions – from loving tenderness to utter bewilderment to white-hot rage and so much in-between – and we live, breathe and weep with them as they become ‘empty nesters’.
It is an indication of the high calibre of all the performances that the audience feel part of the family. As one of the characters says, “Coming home is like a lesson in how to become a better person”. We feel so much at home with this family that the final scene comes as a visceral shock and we are all bereft. Go and see this play.
By Helen Kendrick
