Full of laugh-out-loud one-liners, witty sharp and sometimes bawdy
The title of this play by Sandi Toksvig is apt – it’s set in the day room of the Silver Retirement Home in Hebden Bridge, and Storm Vera’s clouds are gathering outside. The ground floor residents have already been evacuated, but there is no rescue in sight for the five elderly women in the upper day room. The silver lining is their gradual and empowering realisation that it is up to them whether they sink or swim.
The play is full of laugh-out-loud one-liners, witty, sharp and sometimes bawdy, and director Carol Davies’s excellent cast deliver them with aplomb. But there’s sadness and regrets as well, as the audience learns more about the women’s backstories. As you’d expect, living in close quarters means that the relationships between the characters are often fraught, particularly between chalk-and-cheese sisters May and June, played with comedy and pathos by Pauline Walsh and Anne Wright. There are also strong performances from Sue Borg as Brummie Gloria, resplendent in leopard-skin print, Margaret Thompson as hypochondriac Maureen, and the enigmatic St Michael (Elizabeth Beech) whose box of treasures has to be seen to be believed! Younger characters Hope (Nicole Williams) and Jed (Ian Lomas) are developed in unexpected ways.
Set, props and lighting are all effectively used, and the first night audience thoroughly appreciated the humour as well as the more serious themes of the play.
Definitely recommended.
Review by Helen Rigby , Photos by Alan Gorst.
Siulver Lining runs 10-17th June. Book tickets on-line or on 01457 874644
