Park Theatre, 19 September – 14 October. Reviewed by Claire Roderick
5*****
Well, that was emotional. Neil Anthony Docking’s play is sidesplitting and heart breaking in equal measure. Based on the true story of the mothers who met regularly (and still do) after losing their children in the Aberfan disaster, The Revlon Girl captures the grief and strength of the women perfectly.
The play is set in 1967, 8 months after the colliery waste slipped and engulfed Pantglas Junior School, killing 116 children and 28 adults. The women secretly arrange for a Revlon representative to visit their group – the constant indecision about whether to say she is from the W.I. or another respectable organisation is a wonderful running joke that underlines their guilt about wanting something as trivial as makeup tips. In a poky room above the hotel, with a leaky roof – another running joke – Sian prepares for the meeting. Jean, Marilyn and Rona arrive early, and they convince “Revlon” to give them a preview.
Docking’s characterisation is pitch perfect, and these women are instantly recognisable to anyone from the Welsh valleys. Sian (Charlotte Gray) is the smiling peacemaker who would do anything to help anybody, but has a habit of putting her foot in it; Jean (Zoe Harrison) is one of the crachach, the wife whose husband has a higher status job, and looks down her nose at her school friends’ coarse behaviour; Marilyn (Michelle McTernan) is the quiet, dour member of the group and Rona (Bethan Thomas) is the mouthy, sweary one. They all went to school together, and all married miners. Listening to the rhythm and humour of the women’s language, and all the offers of cups of tea, transported me back home to South Wales. Revlon (Antonia Kinlay) is bewildered by the women’s attitudes, but gets a chance to pull one over on the overbearing Rona, and ultimately helps the women reconnect with each other.
The women all have different ways of coping with or denying their grief and each character gets a moment to bring tears to your eyes. When each character allows their true feelings to burst through it is cathartic and devastating, especially when Sian finally breaks down. The cast effortlessly portray the rage that is inside the women. Their explanations about how the disaster should have been avoided and their treatment by the coal board are written sympathetically, feeling organic rather than included as a history lesson.
The women’s fractious relationships, but underlying deep bond of friendship and shared grief treats the audience to a laugh-out-loud sob fest – honestly, I have never heard so much snuffling in a theatre as I did in the last 20 minutes of this play.
The cast are all fantastic – beautifully nuanced performances and onstage relationships. This is basically a masterclass in ensemble acting.
At one point in the play, Rona rails that in 50 years nobody will remember what happened in Aberfan. The Revlon Girl ensures that the strength and spirit of those left behind is immortalised and celebrated. A true Welsh wonder – I urge you to go see this play.