THEATRE REVIEWS

It was a treat to go to the theatre and see a play that had something to say and was worth watching. A play should have an impact at the time, allow the actors to show us their wares and for the memory to remain for days afterwards. This David Hare great piece of writing did just that. The audience did not move or make a sound until the playwright and actors had done with them. Not often these days can these things be said of an evening at the theatre.

This was a dialogue on life with substance, set at the kitchen sink by designer Simon Rorstrand, something that we thought had been lost for ever as the fifties passed us by, or we were never aware of. The play was filled with words that meant something, not just put there for decoration or because that is what you put in plays. Director Elly Green made a first rate job of this production knowing just how far to go to get perfection.

The dialogue was delivered in beautiful speeches that went back and forth as the plot unfolded, telling the story of the conflict between a man and a woman with problems that they felt only related to them. The man's son was thrown in as a catalyst and allowed the punch line to be thrown in at the end.

This is a play that should be seen and experienced thereby deserving a long run, not only for what it has to say, but for the very fine performances that were given by Philip Bretherton as the man Tom and Susie Trayling as the woman Kyra. You will not see better acting than this. Leon Williams as the man's son Edward gave that nice touch needed to show how great his contemporaries were.

If you are lucky enough to see this production move mountains to see it. The story, well that would be giving the game away. It's great. © BA

“Skylight” is in repertory at the McCarthy in Scarborough from the 27th March to the 30th of March, 2006. This is a No Smoking theatre.