A Reckoning

Synopsis

On the 28th anniversary of his marriage, a year after his wife s death, Spencer is unexpectedly visited by his daughter. What begins as a seeming effort to mourn her loss together quickly becomes a confrontation over their shared past. A Reckoning examines the detail of this relationship between father and daughter, whose actions and beliefs are scrutinized and re-interpreted in a battle of wills neither of them expected or relishes. They embark on a journey which leads them into the legal system and back out again in an attempt to explore the wounds we unwittingly inflict on those we care for the most.

Our Review:

3 April 2003

Wesley Moore's neat, engrossing little play puts the microscope on family relationships. In this particular case, a father - daughter one, and for Spencer and Irene the day of Reckoning has come.

Their family unit has collapsed after the death of Spencer's wife (Irene's mother). Left to fend for themselves, a world of bitterness, regret and anger rushes to the surface. Moore explores themes of isolation, identity (genetics verses environment), memory and parental culpability. He looks at the difficulty of reconciling the idealistic parental view you have as a child with the clearer perspective of an adult. In short, he asks, when do we stop blaming our parents?

Irene hasn't stopped, she cites Spencer as the root of her emotional problems, and she wants him to accompany her in some intensive therapy. When he laughs at this, she decides to sue him for “emotional battery”. But all she really seems to want is to be taken seriously.

In [Laura Hopkins...

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Latest User Review

USER: Whatsonstage.com (80.193.222.20) - 17 April 2003:

A great little production at the Soho, a two hander with Jonathan Pryce and Flora Montgomery. It is hard to take you eyes off Mr Pryce, he is such a superb actor, even sniffing the wine as an upper class yank might (and I have never seen him in a non musical). The writing is weak at times (its about repressed or false memory syndrome depending on your view), but I was never bored. Ms Montgomery plays well (even if some lines a re slightly hammy, but I blame the script). All in all a good night, a great chance to see Pryce close up (I was in the front row). ...

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