In a cramped but comfortable North London council flat four female members of a family are preparing for Christmas. It is December 2020, when social interaction is still impacted by the effect of Covid. Within sight of the house are the overbearing walls of Pentonville prison, where the man of the house is incarcerated. The long-suffering and alcoholic mother Doreen (Alice Selwyn) and her three daughters form a fractious family unit, obsessed by football and EastEnders. The youngest daughter Jorja (Ella Harding) waits impatiently and in some distress for a long-awaited phone call on the landline from her father from inside the prison, while receiving mysterious messages on her own phone.
The play, written by Lois Tallulah who also starred as oldest daughter Riley, was billed as “a thought-provoking perspective on the justice system through the eyes of women on the outside”, but it did not live up to that expectation. Certainly, all the women were adversely impacted by the violent and criminal behaviour of the men with whom they were involved, but the absence of the men because of incarceration in the penal system was really incidental. Indeed, the mother and two elder daughters expressed themselves pleased that he had been removed from the family situation.
The play is, however, a very powerful depiction of the interaction of working-class women with a poor start in life and few prospects, forced to live in close proximity. The dialogue was fast, humorous in parts and always engaging. The four cast members playing the family worked very well together and defined their different characters effectively. Alice Selwyn gave a particularly strong and controlled performance as the alcoholic mother buckled under the pressures of the life she had been forced to live. The periodic arrival of her long-time friend Trish (Jennifer Joseph) gave her the opportunity to present some glimpses of the woman that she used to be.
The set made very good use of Brockley Jack’s performance area with a sofa, dining table and kitchen area, all combining to create the effect of the claustrophobic living room, together with suitable ornaments and other paraphernalia of Christmas.
This was a well-acted and well-directed production, but the script could have done with a stronger narrative. While it can be argued that most families live in a continuous repetition of the same sort of behaviour, a stronger plotline would have helped to drive forward the action. The ending, which should not be revealed in a review, was unsatisfactory.
Reviewer: Paul Ackroyd
Reviewed: 14th November 2024
North West End UK Rating: