Pausing after leading a tour through his home town in Ireland, a man finds himself lost in thoughts of the past. A reconciliatory trip to an estranged friend opens up some old memories as well as one or two old wounds. Thus Hugh Leonard sets us up for a journey that takes us back and forth between Easter of 1978 and Easter of 1939 in his witty, observant and moving comedy, currently being performed at The Lyceum Theatre, Oldham, and directd by Peter Fitton.
Drumm finds himself in an uncharacteristically contemplative mood following a mild health scare. Taking a break from his usual routine he excuses himself from his wife Dolly and calls on Mary for what turns out to be his first visit in many, many years. With no shortage of history between them, as well as Mary's husband Kearns, their conversation soon reveals that for all their stories there's still a great deal left unsaid. From that point on the play flits back and forth between the present day of 1978 and their respective youths back in the spring of 1939.
We see the hopes, dreams and ambitions of four very different people playing out in their formative years whilst also seeing their outcomes decades later. Piece by piece, moment by moment and layer by layer we come to see how their lives take shape. Grappling with his late father's expectations of him as well as his own political ambition, Desmond Drumm simultaneously grapples with expressing his true feelings to the woman he loves in a society where such expression is frowned upon. Meanwhile the Drumm of 1978 finds himself weighed down by time's passing, dreams unfulfilled and emotions left unexpressed.
Exploring powerful, emotive themes such as love, ambition, regret and words unsaid it would be incredibly easy for such a play to become bogged down in mawkishness and melodrama. Therefore it's testament to the playwright that 'A Life' is also light-hearted, witty and extremely funny in equal measure without once sacrificing heartfelt emotion in search of a laugh. If life's journey is a mixture of light and shade then Hugh Leonard has chosen his palette perfectly.
Equally it would be very easy for a play that hops between different eras and essentially has two different casts to become scrappy and disjointed. Not once was this an issue with both the story and the play itself transitioning back and forth smoothly. Credit to both the writer and to the director for handling it so well.
The cast handled this duality in magnificent style as well, with younger and older versions of each character immediately identifiable and relatable. Skilful performances across the board that kept their personalities and quirks consistent yet still showed the change in each person across the passage of time. Particular mention must go to Vince Kenny and Joe Marsden as Desmond Drumm in his older and younger years respectively. Kenny bringing a touch of weariness and doubt to his performance to contrast Marsden's drive and impatience. The same can be said of Maggie and Ruth Blaszczok, the mother and daughter duo that brought Mary to life across the decades, maintaining the same fire and passion in different phases of her life.
Similarly the pairing of Paul Ward and Jon Comyn-Platt bring easy going Lar Kearns to life as a young rascal without a care in the world and that great-uncle that's always eager to top up your glass with a glint in his eye respectively. Elizabeth Beech and Rachel Harrison ensure that Dolly, Drumm's wife, is far more than a passenger or observer as her husband's story plays out.
In both 1978 and 1938 the chemistry between the cast is palpable and engrossing. Whether in their respective couples or collectively they convey exactly the right balance of affection, frustration and antagonism with one another. Moreover they perfectly capture the mood of growing up in the often uptight and judgemental world of a small Irish town in the 1930s, balancing expression and reserve.
Delayed from it's initial performance dates before the pandemic struck, it's appropriate in many ways that this is the first production back at the Lyceum. A fine, nuanced script brought to life with strong performance and direction would make this highly recommended at any point in time. Coming after a time when many of us have been forced to consider our own places in the world, not least the legacies we would leave behind us, it's been rendered even more relevant and poignant. Touching, honest and laugh out loud funny. 'A Life' is highly recommended.
Reviewer - Chris Brooker
on - 1.12.21
Absolutely agree the whole cast is amazing and this is a great one to watch.
ReplyDelete