Theatre Royal Bath – until 2 November 2019
Reviewed by Nicky Wyatt
3***
A really clever set design, instantly transports you back in time to the 1950’s. The initial slum like set depicts the tenements of the time in Salford. It’s dingy , grimy and next door to the abattoir. It is the place that is the new home of Helen (Jody Prenger) and errant teenager daughter Jo (Gemma Dobson).
These two have an odd relationship neither show each other love, they both seem to harbour bitterness and angst to each other. Helen has never enjoyed being a mum, left with a baby at a young age to fend for them both in any way she could.
While Jo is pretty much bringing herself up and resents her life and mums choices. They have an incredible amount of dialogue between them which deserves praise for remembering it all. I did at times find it difficult to catch as it is very fast and slightly monotone in it’s delivery.
Throughout the performance we are blessed with some fabulous Jazz musicians, they really set the tone and mood, at times the cast break into a tune with them.
Things take a turn when Helen is pursued by car salesman Peter (Tom Varey). He has fallen for the older woman and she has fallen for his money. As he woos her with flowers and chocolates, daughter Jo who is feeling more alone meets sailor Jimmie (Durone Stokes). She is lonely and vulnerable and he is a man of the world who happens to have the most amazing voice, when he sings it’s as smooth as honey, she is very taken with him. He makes such a fuss of her and she revels in his attentions. When a swing seat appears from the rafters she jumps on , he pushes her it is a very sweet moment and just one of many smooth set
changes. With Helen rushing off to marry Peter a poorly Jo is looked after by Jimmie, he has already proposed and made huge promises to her, following her mothers lead she takes him to bed because that’s what you do when someone shows you attention . Soon after Jimmie goes back to sea leaving a lonely Jo pregnant and alone.
She tries to hide it and works two jobs almost unheard of in those times. Her best friend Geoffrey(Stuart Thompson) steps in to help her, he moves in and they have some frank exchanges she wants to know why he is gay and he wants to know about the baby, an unlikely alliance forms and they bumble along quite well until he starts to worry and reaches out to Helen for help. The reunion isn’t what he hoped especially as he bears the brunt of some awful jibes about his sexuality.
The story has come full circle. Unmarried mums struggling against poverty and adversity to survive.