The Lowry (& tour)

We may have said farewell to Christmas some weeks ago now but continuing to tour is Wynyard Browne’s beautifully written 60 year-old seasonal play focussing on the dysfunctional relationship between a Parson and his three grown-up children.

The Parson, Rev Martin Gregory (Philip Madoc) is an honest and proud man heavily reliant on his devoted daughter Jenny (Zoie Kennedy), who longs for freedom so she can marry the man she loves. Jenny’s younger and frivolous brother, Mick (Nathan Hannan), on leave from his national service, is impressionable but good-hearted and her older sister Margaret (Corinne Wicks) at first seems cold and stubborn but it soon becomes clear that she is troubled by hidden secrets. These secrets form the backbone of the moving story and as the secrets are revealed the family develop new understandings and cracked relationships are satisfactorily repaired.

From a writing point of view the family unit is given real depth by Browne but the cast generally fail to get to grips with the complexities of the characters. Madoc fluffs a lot of lines and it’s a real struggle to understand his odd Irish accent. Kennedy and Wicks are both extremely wooden in their roles and lack any charisma whatsoever. Hannan fares a little better but at times overacts rendering his character little more than an irritating child. I’ve seen many amateur actors perform better than this.

The supporting cast score greater success, with Paddy Glynn providing some amusement as Irish Aunt Bridget and Christine Drummond as kindly Aunt Lydia. Also in the cast is Alan Leith as Cousin Richard, a rather thankless character but played with charisma. Tom Butcher doesn’t have a great deal to do as David Paterson, suitor to Jenny, but I’m sure that if he spoke a little clearer and projected more he would make a greater impact.

Director Michael Lunney lends the piece a nice pace whereby the evening never drags but at the same time nothing feels rushed. Played out on a lovely and detailed set originally designed by Alison Gorton but now re-invented by Lunney himself, The Holly and the Ivy is a play well worthy of this revival but seriously let down by poor performances.

- Malcolm Wallace

This entry was posted on Tuesday, February 17th, 2009 at 4:35 pm and is filed under Reviews. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.