Time and the Conways

Synopsis

Classic family drama from the author of An Inspector Calls. It is 1919 and Mrs Conway, an easy going widow, and her daughters are enjoying a life filled with entertaining, laughter and young men. All have high spirits and high hopes for the future. But eighteen years later the optimistic aftermath of the first world war has faded and things have progressed not necessarily according to their rose tinted predictions. One of J B Priestley's finest plays, 'Time and the Conways' questions the concept of time, destiny and predestination.

Our Review:

6 May 2009

Lightning rarely strikes twice, and an attempt by the National Theatre to replicate its 1992 success with Stephen Daldry’s sensational production of J B Priestley’s An Inspector Calls (still touring) comes badly unstuck in this over-stuffed revival of a lesser Priestley play, Time and the Conways, last seen with Joan Plowright and her daughters at the Old Vic nearly twenty years ago.

Director Rupert Goold and designer Laura Hopkins do their best with their dissection of a family and its fortunes between the two world wars, but the apparent “experimentalism” of the structure proves a mixed blessing, not a boon to creativity.

We start in 1919 on the night of Kay Conway’s 21st birthday party. The charades are interrupted by a second act fast forward to 1938, Kay’s fortieth, and a summary of how illusions have faded, bitterness grown and tragedy overtaken them all, before the first...

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Latest User Review

offy - 6 August 2009:

I was sickened to see this production at our glorious National Theatre of Great Britain. Not only do I fail to see why anyone but would want to revive this stale old chump of play, but the cast! I am staggered... is this the best this latest so-called hero of the London stage can do? Is he forced into these cast members because of National Theatre company loyalties? I have seen so many wonderful actresses around the country, on tour, or in the provinces... I recall a beautiful production of this very play at The Royal Exchange in Manchester about 7 years ago with a wonderful cast. this was woeful. not Fancesca Annis - she gave a good and truthful performance, as did fenela Woolgar - up to a point - but hten she went no deeper... but the rest of them! I am truly lost for words. They were quite staggeringly bad and i have to hope that hot-shot directors like Mr Goold purports to be begin to pay attention to talent rather than laziness and get actors who are actually good instead of the frankly embarrassing ludicrous turns who I saw out there tonight! I am most dismayed!...

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