A childless couple, Mhari and Thomas, are at the centre of this play. Mhari (Julia Jack) is desperate to conceive and has attended the fertility clinic with her husband Thomas (Anthony Kelly) who goes along with her wishes but is basically indifferent to the issue. She appears to be faced everywhere with pregnant women or women with babies and small children and is driven to take extreme action.
The hour long piece has strong individual performances notably from Julia Jack as Mhari who had sadness etched on her face throughout and Rebecca Wilkie in the dual role as the social worker and pretentious yummy mummy in the making throwing her R’s away as she flicks through magazines.
But this play is full of stereotypes and lacks focus and punch as it tries to cover too much ground. The token swearing adds little to story.
The tragedy of the lengths this woman goes to satisfy her perceived right to a child should have been a poignant and moving tale. Narrator Anthony Kelly did a good job but the play has too much telling and not enough showing. The beautiful image by artist Madeleine Hand shows a dignified sadness that belies the play’s action.
Wear light clothing as the small black sheeted downstairs studio venue is very hot with only one small fan to relieve the closeness. The view is limited by the necessary nature of the seating and actors being seated much of the time does not help. It may be that the play is held in the wrong venue but while the flyer says the time “…breeds…broods [and]…steals” It also drags.
31st July – 25th August at 5pm
£9.50/ £8.50