Post by joem on Apr 12, 2023 10:21:59 GMT
When diversity in theatre is discussed in this country it tends to be always one type of diversity under the microscope, so it is gratifying to see this play at the Arcola written by British-based, Canadian-Chinese writer and comedian Joanne Lau and performed by a cast of actors with an east Asian background. Many people tend to forget that this too is an important and significant minority (well in excess of 1% of the UK population) which is under-represesnted in the world of entertainment.
Sermon over. There may be some slight spoliers ahead, more thematic than narrative I hope. This is a rumbustious, at times exhilarating, tale based partly on two real-life incidents. Starting off as a dark family comedy, two brothers and two sisters, plus the teenage son of the older sister, which has Ortonesque moments of black farce as the siblings come together for the first time in years, fence around the issue of their mother's death (it's the day of her funeral) but really are far more interested in what money they can get out of her estate, ending up with a wild search around the house for anything she might have hidden.
The second half has the play taking a more serious turn and the laughs disappear as the action becomes tense, confrontational and even violent. This is less successful, to my mind, and rather discordant with the earlier, lighter, tone. The characters morph from loveable rogues to something rather less engaging and what is presented as a mildly discordant family, in a funny sort of way, suddenly becomes more sinister with issues of abuse and mental health coming to the fore. I would also suggest the second half does drag on a bit, in contrast to the feisty, sparkling first half.
To sum up though this is good entertainment and a worthy effort which might benefit from a slight rewrite.
Sermon over. There may be some slight spoliers ahead, more thematic than narrative I hope. This is a rumbustious, at times exhilarating, tale based partly on two real-life incidents. Starting off as a dark family comedy, two brothers and two sisters, plus the teenage son of the older sister, which has Ortonesque moments of black farce as the siblings come together for the first time in years, fence around the issue of their mother's death (it's the day of her funeral) but really are far more interested in what money they can get out of her estate, ending up with a wild search around the house for anything she might have hidden.
The second half has the play taking a more serious turn and the laughs disappear as the action becomes tense, confrontational and even violent. This is less successful, to my mind, and rather discordant with the earlier, lighter, tone. The characters morph from loveable rogues to something rather less engaging and what is presented as a mildly discordant family, in a funny sort of way, suddenly becomes more sinister with issues of abuse and mental health coming to the fore. I would also suggest the second half does drag on a bit, in contrast to the feisty, sparkling first half.
To sum up though this is good entertainment and a worthy effort which might benefit from a slight rewrite.