2.5 STARS. Amanda Hodges finds the latest offering from Sandi Toksvig to be well intentioned but ultimately uninspiring in its portrayal of five mature characters fighting flood water in their retirement home
Photo by Mark Douet
Silver Lining at ETT and Rose Theatre Kingston ProcductionWRITERSandi ToksvigDIRECTORRebecca GatwardDESIGNERMichael TaylorLIGHTING DESIGNERMark DoubledaySOUND DESIGNERMic PoolASSOCIATE DIRECTORSpencer NollCASTING DIRECTORLisa MakinJEDTheo Toksvig-StewartMAUREENRachel DaviesHOPEKeziah JosephMAYMaggie McCarthyJUNEJoanna MonroGLORIASheila ReidST MICHAELAmanda Walker
Sandi Toksvig is well-known for her winning sense of humour and indeed much of it is in evidence in her new play, the only trouble is that there are far too many gags stuffed in at the expense of the characters development and this is a real shame as it undermines the overall dramatic impact.
The play’s premise concerns five residents of the Silver Retirement Home in Gravesend who are stranded upstairs when a flood threatens their home. The arrival of a young rescue worker initially offers hope (quite literally, since this is her name!) but soon they realise they’ve been effectively abandoned by the outside world and any help must come from their own resources.
Toksvig’s drama is concerned with the plight of many older people in society today for the themes of loneliness and the way in which older women often seem to effectively become invisible repeatedly crop up. All well and good and it’s to her credit that she’s written a meaty vehicle for five mature actors but a pity that it isn’t a stronger and more perceptive play as the intentions behind it are clearly well-placed.
Photo by Mark Douet
Silver Lining at ETT and Rose Theatre Kingston ProcductionWRITERSandi ToksvigDIRECTORRebecca GatwardDESIGNERMichael TaylorLIGHTING DESIGNERMark DoubledaySOUND DESIGNERMic PoolASSOCIATE DIRECTORSpencer NollCASTING DIRECTORLisa MakinJEDTheo Toksvig-StewartMAUREENRachel DaviesHOPEKeziah JosephMAYMaggie McCarthyJUNEJoanna MonroGLORIASheila ReidST MICHAELAmanda Walker
The five mature characters – Gloria (Sheila Reid), an ebullient Cockney in leopardskin onesie, presenting a tart front to the world but secretly stashing pills for a swift exit, St Michael (Amanda Walker), an ancient resident suffering from dementia, former actress Maureen (Rachel Davies) dreaming of thespian glory whilst sisters May (Maggie McCarthy), a liberal lesbian and the downtrodden June (Joanna Munro) – bicker endlessly whilst all the while the flood waters threaten to engulf their Home.
It’s cheering if predictable to see these women eventually calling on their former skills in order to survive but disappointing – given the wealth of talent on display – that it couldn’t have been more satisfyingly deployed. There are some genuinely funny moments for sure as evinced when Gloria surveys the wreckage of her life and caustically remarks ‘to think that if I hadn’t given up the smoking and drinking I’d have missed all this!’ but too often simple vulgarity (like St Michael’s dodgy treasure trove) is uppermost with one-liners flying fast and thick and subtler characterisation often sacrificed in the process.
- Silver Lining is at the Rose Theatre Feb 3-11 for tickets visit ett.org.uk
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