Full Circle

Full Circle is a comedy drama by Janet Shaw exploring the cracks and issues that can appear in a family during events where they can’t avoid issues or each other; in this case a family wedding.

The bride’s grandmothers were once best friends but have not spoken since 1969. When they do meet, they are rude, sarcastic and downright nasty to each other.  Brian (Mark Laurie) and Linda (Tracey Bates), their son/son in law, daughter/daughter in law, are getting fed up with the situation, especially as nobody knows why their respective mothers dislike each other so much.

The play is about communication, or rather the lack of it, what really matters in life and the damaging effect of long held secrets.

The set was good and had a relaxed family home environment with lots of detail such as a lovely trellis, a conservatory, French windows as well as the usual furnishings.

I also thought the costumes were well thought out.  I loved Wills’ outfits and Nicola’s onesie.

A slow burn this one and seemed in parts to be funny but at times to be serious. Rather than being a dark comedy it didn’t seem sure whether it was drama or comedy.

Some of the one-liners were funny such as the Malapropism ‘I got it from Harvey Nicks, it was seduced;’ ‘alcohol doesn’t solve any problems – neither does milk;’ and ‘what do people who work at Facebook do to waste time?”

Nige Atkinson was perfect as Wills generating lots of laughter and positively lifting the show with every entrance. I felt some of the others in the cast were mismatched, and there was some over-acting which detracted from the plot. However, there was some fabulous acting in the last scene especially Liz Gibson as Dee and Lesley Barnes as Millie. 

Unfortunately, possibly due to first night nerves, the prompt was needed too often, which again, spoilt proceedings.

Still, it was enjoyable and funny with an upbeat ending and the cast have plenty of moments to be proud of.

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