FAMILY Ties

…are, for most of us, those that bind us the strongest and are the hardest to break – not that most of us would wish to do so. But for the characters in this black comedy, set as the family gathers to celebrate their cunning, manipulative mother’s wedding anniversary, breaking the ties is the only way to avoid slow, steady suffocation.

Estelle Hughes, directing a full-length play for the first time, keeps the pace flowing well and her cast do her proud. Newcomers Marianne Gillingham (Shirley) and Paul Dredge (Terry) are both clearly destined to be a great asset to the players and give superb performances, as do Greig Blanden (Tom), David Brown (Henry) and Judy Garrett (Karen). And Lyn Richell plainly relishes the challenge of playing the mother from hell, and finds just the right balance between pure evil, total selfishness and lack of affection for, or interest in, anyone but herself.

Consequently there is never a moment when any character seems unreal, and if my dreams over the next few nights revolve around little boys with air pistols, glass eyes, strange ears and men in women’s clothes, that is a tribute to just how much this fine production lodged itself in my mind.

Linda Kirkman

Courtesy of the Bournemouth Daily Echo