Blessings at Riverside Studios Review
Written by Cathie for Theatre & Tonic
Disclaimer: Gifted tickets in exchange for an honest review
It’s 1969, and mankind will walk on the moon for the first time. Divorce is becoming easier with a new act in parliament. Society is changing rapidly, yet what worries you most is your O-level results and having a kickabout with your mates. Sally Shelton’s Blessings is a show which looks at the challenging life and times of the Catholic Deacon family in a southern English village.
Blessings is an expanded production following its original debut at the Riverside Bite Size Festival. It starts with an Eastertide service where eldest children Martin (Freddie Webster) and Penny (Milly Roberts) are down from their busy careers in London to visit their devout and traditional mother Dorie (Anna Acton). Their father Frank (Gary Webster) is adamantly avoiding the church, with abundantly clear reason as the play unfurls, and dutiful youngest Sally (Emily Lane) is ever left to play the peacemaker. Then we meet wild third child Frances (Hannah Traylen), who is pregnant out of wedlock and expelled after swearing at a nun in school. From teenage pregnancy, O-level exam stress, family expectations and juggling young love with friendships, this production meanders through the lives of these very reassuringly ordinary souls. Although there are plenty of clever lines, twist events and character exploration, the tension remains relatively constant and the struggles are highly reflective of the time.
Although not explored in depth, the many themes of divorce, infidelity, the impact of faith upon societal traditions, woman’s independence and the pressure a first love can put upon their girlfriends are showcased with brilliant, subtle flair. The cast chemistry is solid but not always convincing in showcasing the depth of the relationships on stage.
The set, designed by Alice Carroll, is fantastic and a beautifully nostalgic trip down memory lane with brightly patterned wallpaper and vintage record players. The costumes are vibrant and brilliantly encapsulate the character’s values and ideals. Dan Terry’s lighting and music by Andy Graham work fantastically to set the changing atmosphere and moods of the characters instantly. Its running time of 90 minutes works well to slowly build the tension and intricate links between the characters. Yet with the final cliff hanger leaving much of the story and the characters’ futures up in the air, there could have been a quicker build up to these twist conclusions.
This production’s style might have worked better as a short TV series, but it is definitely an enjoyable evening at the theatre. This is a rather cosy slice of life for an ordinary family looking at its ups and downs yet finding our way through it anyway. If you enjoy light family drama, fond nostalgia and a view back to a simpler time then this is the show for you.
Plays at Riverside Studios until 26 October
★★★
