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REVIEW
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Births, Deaths and Marriages Margaret Clark reviews Dead Guilty
Births, Deaths and Marriages
My naive belief that writers start with page one and scribble on to the end was turned on its
head when playwright Stephen Smith prepared this script. First, came Act III written as a one
act play under the title Anniversary for a Festival entry last year where it covered itself in
glory coming Second at Cambridge, and awarded Best New Play at Sawston. At that Festival
Christine Easterfield won the accolade Best Supporting Actor.
Stephen did not rest on his laurels but then wrote Act I as a one act called Arrival for this
year's Festival entry. Deliberating over these "bookends" Stephen decided to write Act II with
the title Oncology. Thus he arrived at a full evening's production entitled Births, Deaths and
Marriages. For my review I will start with page one and go on to the end.
On page one French windows opened on to a patio, a set that earned Mark Easterfield an
award for Set Design at both Sawston and Cambridge Festivals. Anne (Wendy Croft) and her
husband, Kevin (David Morris) arrive home from a social engagement to be confronted by
Anne's brother Bernard (Michael Husband) - the black sheep of the family. The "Arrival"
came in the form of a policewoman (Kattreya Smith) investigating a road accident. Tension
built as husband and wife became implicated until Bernard unmasked a young woman seeking
retaliation for an abortion due to the action of their son. Kattreya gave a controlled
performance as the officer in her pathetic attempt to return the hurt. In a thoroughly
believable performance Michael Husband showed us the eternal loser chasing harebrained
schemes.
Act II was set in a hospital's Oncology Department and written by Stephen as a tribute to his
mother. We were presented with a range of characters including Kevin's mother Edna
(Rosemary Eason) and his sister Miriam (Christine Easterfield). The ensemble acting was
very good with the aura of depression lifted by the two sisters (Liz Beeson and Caroline
Blair), the clinic assistant (Paul Lockwood) constantly faced with the non-arrival of a patient
and a second clinic assistant (Cath Perkins). But Connie (Jane Stewart) and Frank (Chris
Shinn) were being forced to accept the inevitable parting. Thought provoking exchanges
highlighted that the Big C is a great leveller and this act could be a valuable contribution to
next year's Festivals.
Act III saw Edna's family celebrating Kevin and Anne's Anniversary. Breaking into the
festivities is Kevin's brother, Keith (Tim Boden) in an inebriated state and furious at
overhearing Kevin's disparaging remarks on his best man's speech 25 years earlier. During
Keith's tirade it becomes apparent that he believes his absence abroad serving in the army
was taken advantage of by Kevin to steal and marry his girl. Edna suggests the feud could be
solved by the brothers sharing Anne's favours and hints at the paternity of Miriam. The scene
included a full range of emotions and concluded with Edna's announcement that she is not long
for this world and wishes to see her family reconciled.
There were good performances throughout from Dave Morris as an egocentric business man
and Wendy Croft as his long suffering wife. Tim Boden portrayed the erratic behaviour of a
possibly traumatised soldier; and Christine Easterfield a convincing performance of a
capable unmarried daughter totally thrown by her mother's revelations. Rosemary Eason as
mother played a key role in this family saga and showed an effective contrast between the
dependent ageing woman in the Oncology Clinic and later the woman of strong opinions
formed by life's experiences.
Stephen Smith, director as well as playwright, is to be congratulated on good casting, good
performances, a hard working stage crew and a script which balances tragedy and comedy.
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