Saturday 6 October 2018

REVIEW: By The Waters Of Liverpool - The Empire Theatre, Liverpool




'By The Waters Of Liverpool' is the second of three sequels to Helen Forrester’s first autobiographical book 'Twopence To Cross The Mersey' (adapted as a hugely successful play and musical). This much anticipated production has once again been adapted by writer and producer Rob Fennah who became great friends with Forrester until her death in 2011. Fennah demonstrates a great understanding throughout this drama as he picks up the story bringing Forrester’s recollection of being a young woman in 1930s Liverpool from the page to the stage. The material is rich in period references of this between-wars decade documenting the Great Depression that produced worldwide economic recession causing investors to lose millions on the stock exchange.

Fennah handles Helen’s story sensitively without being overly sentimental. In fact, he doesn’t pull his punches as we see the Forrester family’s decline as Helen’s once wealthy stockbroker father (Mark Moraghan), having lost everything, is forced to move them from their comfortable home in the South to his native Liverpool. Maria Lovelady is extremely comfortable in the lead role of Helen, having played the character in the previous play, setting a good pace having had a few shows under her belt. We follow Helen’s story of rebelling against her middle-class mother (Emma Dears) who runs up debts as she insists on keeping up appearances. She pulls Helen from school and treats her as a nanny to her younger siblings and an unpaid domestic servant. Helen fights for her right to work (in borrowed clothes) and to educate herself receiving an even harsher reality check along the way as she falls prey to unscrupulous men and catty women in the workplace, where secretarial jobs are most coveted. It’s something of a hard knock life for the well-spoken young woman, looking for life and love, who is very much a fish out of water in the rough port of Liverpool.

There are many reasons why this play shouldn’t work. The Liverpool Empire stage is an enormous setting for this kitchen sink drama. In many ways it would be better in a more intimate theatre that would capture the family living altogether in one room rather than grouped on the stage. Set designer Richard Foxton supported with clever lighting by Ian Scott, however, goes with it creating a huge static Liverpool buildings backdrop with the cast moving a few pieces of furniture around to create scenes. The vastness of the space somehow represents the enormity of the issues and the great appeal of the story attracts crowds enough to fill the 2,500-seat theatre. The play is didactic throughout which may irritate some as we are very much taught the history of the depression and the rise of racism, poverty, communism and the Nazi party leading to the outbreak of WWII. It is very much like a book reading at times but there is a great deal of ground to cover and this is an effective way for the stage. It’s also a cautionary tale with enough modern-day relevance to attract a younger audience. The play is crying out to be a television series.

Director Gareth Tudor Price has a fine ensemble cast to work with bringing characters to life realistically and adding some beautiful dance sequences that capture the era. Eric Potts, of Dr Who fame, brings fun and a class performance to his numerous roles including a bailiff, pawn broker and air raid warden. It is refreshing to see performances that do not simply stereotype Liverpool people as cheeky or criminal Scousers. I have not read the books or seen the previous plays (there is no need for this to enjoy the performance) so admit to coming with expectation of yet another typical Liverpool family saga. This is far from that and there is a reason why Forrester’s work continues to attract such huge audiences. I left with a tear in my eye and a longing for the next instalment.
The new stage adaptation is fully endorsed by the Helen Forrester estate, and is part of the Liverpool Empire’s #Liverpool2018 celebrations to mark the 10th anniversary of the city’s European Capital of Culture year.

Reviewer - Barbara Sherlock
on - 6/10/18

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