Contact is an hour-long exploration of unresolved pain, blame and a yearning for love amid the messy realities of today’s nuclear family. It is caustically funny, filled with bathos and yet heart-felt as we peel away the characters’ anguish. A dysfunctional parent-child relationship is adeptly presented by Blythe Duff (Mother) and Mark Barrett (her adult son).
Duff’s depth of expression, conveyed with minimalist physicality and restrained vocal range is hugely engaging. She is cold, verbally acerbic and cruel, yet her tears of frustration and pain are heart-rending. Some might call her descent into grief contrived. Yet, it was moving. Barrett plays the adult child (who feels the urge to build bridges, but ultimately, is as cruel as his mother in a more nuanced way) with an uneasiness that feels honest and bare.
The direction (Ben Standish) requires the actors to avoid eye contact. It works artistically. These characters embody so much resentment, anger. love and fear that they cannot look each other in the eye. To present that range of emotions and clearly communicate the breadth and depth of this script requires skill. Duff and Barrett, with the minimum of rehearsal time, communicate with true pathos.
Jonny Donahoe has drafted a witty script that tackles the tragedy of modern family life when things go wrong and there’s nobody to pick up the pieces. His sharply comic dialogue covers bad wine and the willingness to drink it anyway; the vagaries of inclusivity; admitting that time is moving on (with all that reveals about our memories and achievements – or lack of); dementia and the care of the elderly; the way inlaws change the habits of family life; denial; codology psychology; genetic legacies and how easy it is to blame others. It is an ambitious remit for a one-hour play, but one that captivates and leaves space for personal interpretation and discussion once the play is over.
I applaud the energy and commitment of all involved in these short-run plays, delivered at lunchtime with simple sets demanding that the actors produce strong, truthful performances.
You can catch Contact at Paisley Town Hall from 20th to 23rd October inclusive.
Reviewer: Kathleen Mansfield
Reviewed: 15th October 2026
North West End UK Rating: