Clapham Fringe 2019
Reviewed by Elizabeth J Smith
4****
Have you ever eaten the top layer of a box of chocolates enjoying each sweet delight, the strawberry dream, tempting toffee, caramel cream and so many more. Safe in the knowledge that there’s another layer underneath. Then you realise the box isn’t that thick and there isn’t another layer to enjoy. You’ve eaten the lot quickly when you should of savoured each treat. Well that was the feeling I had at the end of The Gravy Bunch. I wanted more.
Isaac Rowan and Tom Plenderleith have written a very insightful piece. We follow Northern, working class, single Mum Yvonne and her two daughters, Zoe and Emily, as she tries to hide the truth of the girls Father’s absence from her youngest daughter Emily, and navigate raising the girls with little money but with the support of her brother Uncle Greg. Does she manage this? What happens when Emily discovers a letter from her Dad and realises he has been trying to connect with her for many years. This raises question’s for Emily as to why her Mum would keep this knowledge from her.
Secrets can and often do destroy families, will this one survive the truth?
Directed by Ben Reid, who masterly choreographed the chaos of family life and the intricacies of relationships.
Ela Yalcin, Yvonne, played an older, some what beaten down woman perfectly. Showing just enough emotions to be real and not over dramatic.
Lucy Ireland, Zoe, was the distracted older teenage sister. Her display of “I don’t care”, “its all about me” attitude came over clearly.
Megan Fleet, Emily, the younger teenager, captured the difference between the two sisters although very similar in age, their take on life was noticeably different.
Tom Plenderleith, Sam, portrayed the Southern, posh, outsider with some very humorous moments. I wouldn’t want to eat his Toad in a Hole!
Laurence Parker, Greg, was the family stalwart, but what secrets of his own was he hiding from his family?
They say all good things come in small packages and this short play just proved that. It drew us into each character, so that when the curtain came down there was a distinct feeling of disappointment with the audience.
So Isaac and Tom get your pens out and expand this play. There are to many unanswered questions that need answering. The Brady bunch this lot are not but we want to know where they all end up.
I would have given 5 stars but it was too short and I wanted more.