Quays Theatre, The Lowry, Manchester – 3rd October. Reviewed by Julie Noller
5*****
Things I know to be True, a beautifully written play by Andrew Bovell. Full of emotion and wonderfully performed by a hugely talented cast. From the outset you are drawn into the dysfunctional yet totally normal family ‘The Prices’. I was curious to watch the audience around me, I had noted they were mostly younger and keen to keep notes obviously it’s a school project. A quick glance towards the end of the play told be they were all enraptured, eagerly leaning forward to follow this story to its conclusion. Word of warning, the play starts with loud music and flashing lights, don’t look into the lights, for the next ten minutes the whole stage will be covered in black spots. We start the play where it also ends Bob Price wondering if he should answer that late night call, we’ve all been there!
Each character has their time in the spot light, a chance to tell their story. Rosie Price (Kirsty Oswald) the youngest of four children. Is on a gap year sightseeing tour of Europe. She suffers a broken heart and runs home to the protection of her family. To her mother Fran (Cate Harmer) family is everything, she prides herself on knowing her children but shes bored, she’s nearing retirement but doesn’t want to spend her time with her husband Bob (John McArdle) who we watch tend his garden and see his roses bloom, he’s a quiet unassuming man who has a working class pride in family and helping his fellow man. Does he notice Fran is bored, does he show his children his love for them. We’re never quite sure. Their other three children each with their own life and problems are also still attched to family by strings that twist and turn. Mark Price (Matthew Barker) the eldest. It’s fascinating to see how family life impacts on his plans and wishes. Fran his Mother disowns him, Bob doesn’t know quite what to say and Rosie thinks only how it will impact on her life. I was shocked, how many times have we thought ‘what will I do, what about me’ without actually acknowledging the person stood infront of you. Pip Price according to Fran is like her but stronger (a tell tale sign theres a secret or two there) She, much to Frans disgust escapes the boredom of family life to try to seek herself in Canada, Bob tells her to do what makes her happy. Ben Price who the others say is Frans favourite, struggles with Bob, his Father. You sense he wants approval but for what? Fran still washes his shirts, he drives a flashy car and then his world collapses around him, lies and stealing have led to a life of drugs and running away from his family yet he always ends back in the loving arms of Fran who will know what to do, she always knows what to do.
The Play is slick and fast paced, slightly chaotic. But I couldn’t see it working any other way. I loved the way the table and other props moved around the stage, Pip managed to sit on the chair just as it was pushed across the stage. Bobs garden and roses were growing, blooming, even tended during the interval by the cast themselves. My favourite parts were the movement pieces – you can’t call them dance moves but they show the family leaning on each other, lives intertwined as you would expect, its visual. We would laugh at parts we recognised from our families, we each gasped and nodded at things we know happen. We would look at each other in the audience and say ‘how did they see inside my house’. I knew in the interval that tears would come, you just knew this family we were witnessing fall apart yet be totally average were facing heartache. However I don’t think any of us saw just what the heartache would be. Death is a sad subject to see. The tenderness of Bobs children caring for him, dressing him. When he’d cried out in such primal grief, I inhaled. I wiped my eyes when Rosie cried out ‘I just want my Mum’ I felt every word, I’d said every word, My own grief replayed. I heard the ladies behind me sniffling and quietly sobbing, on lights up the ashen faces of the young boys, the girls quietly embarrassed turned away with tears streaming, replayed a story of humanity. I thought nothing of standing to my feet and applauding an exceptional play, full of human understanding and the way family life plays out neither perfect or faultless. Please go and watch this play and make sure you take plenty of tissues.