In 1992, musician Rob Fennah met author Helen Forrester and they struck up a friendship and what was to become a creative partnership. Years earlier Fennah had been given one of Forrester’s books to read whilst waiting to go on air for a radio interview. He wrote a song, inspired by her description of her father, she heard the song and that was that, they became friends. Following this artistic union,Fennah adapted Helen Forrester’s ‘Twopence To Cross The Mersey’ into a musical then stage play (back in 2015-16, with the support of Bill Elms and Pulse Records - a collaboration of the two) and now its sequel, ‘By The Waters Of Liverpool’ sets sail across the UK, starting and ending in the North West.
Born in Hoylake, Cheshire, Helen Forrester’s memoirs recount the years of hardship that she and her family endured in Depression-era Liverpool. With an open stage, tonight at The Plaza in Stockport, depicting the dome roof of Lime Street Station - “where many a girl has written to their serviceman asking to meet them under the clock of the station” - we are treated to a Blood Brothers-esque show, with beautifully poetic lines, subtly adapted from Forrester’s books. It also shares a likeness in that the line on which it starts and that with which it ends. Although it is not clear whether the whole story is autobiographical - suggested otherwise by the brief biography in the programme - here we meet Forrester’s family who have been forced to migrate North, to the Merseyside city, from the South West. Helen (Lucy Dixon) and her parents (Mark Moraghan as her father) are joined by her sister Fiona (Chloe McDonald, who also plays hairdresser Dawn, Miss Finch and Aunt Emily), brother Alan (Parry Glasspool) and their younger siblings [Brian, Tony, Avril and Edward - who don’t appear in person]. In such times of hardship, her parents argue and her mother (Sian Reeves) is portrayed as strained of motherhood and is not a likable character to begin with, although she does seem to soften, whilst remaining false and full of pompous aspiration.
The conditions of their home, in (or leading up to) wartime Liverpool, are harrowing to say the least, with Helen having to sleep on a door lying across some bricks and cover herself with a newspaper for a blanket, as she tells ‘Fairy Godmother’, Deaconess, Mrs Ferguson (Lynn Francis, who also plays as hairdresser Betty, Doris and Helen’s Grandma) who meets Helen and secures her an interview before a job as a telephonist. Francis doubles up [as many of the cast do] as Miss MacAdam, manager of the charity where Helen gets to work. Supervisor, Mr Ellis (Eric Potts) provides humour, alongside sidekick Herbert (Glasspool), which is much-needed as a contrast to the stark realism in parts of the story. In fact, Potts’ constant comedic characters [not least as an ARP warden and dance instructor, Norm] are a joy, whilst remaining straight when needed. Eventually, once her mother rents the spare room out to a rampant Irish couple, the house occupies a staggering 12 people!
As well as comedy and lightheartedness, the show is full of heat-warming times when you smile and are even close to having a lump in your throat. From Helen’s determination to succeed and develop in her career as a support worker, fed by her first job at the charity, to attending Norm and Doris’ dance class and reuniting with the gentleman soldier she briefly got acquainted with on a walk to the pier with her father - Harry (Danny O’Brien, who plays pimp Nick, that offers her a place in his gaggle of lasses). The two fall in love and discuss a future towards the end, between his service in the war, attending the dance classes, as well as [Mrs Overall-esque] Ma’s café. This bond is lovely to watch too. There are dark points too, for example; when Helen is assaulted by two men in the lift at work and upon the police’s discovery of her letters to German pen pal Freidrich, but all comes good in the end. Though there is a focus on Helen and her family’s journey,we are not left to forget that there is a war on, with the trio of newspaper seller, butcher (Roy Carruthers) and pawnbroker offering their insight, at times, not the mention the first half ending with a bang.
With such a compact but talented cast, you almost forget that they are playing multiple characters (even more than I have included here), because of the sheer versatility of their craft and ability at a multitude of accents. The writing, direction (Gareth Tudor Price) and execution is brilliant and the soundscape adds to the atmosphere and setting [even if it does have a vibe of Diamonds Are Forever]. It is always delightful to see performers that I have watched before but put together, and we wish all of them well.
The show remains here until 12th, before heading to Warrington, St Helens, Lancaster, Crewe, Southport and onward to Rhyl, Swansea, Darlington, returning to the North West in May for Liverpool and Blackpool. Do not miss it!
Reviewer - John Kristof
on - 10/3/20
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