Home I'm Darling

Home, I’m Darling, is a new play written by Laura Wade which made its debut in 2018. It tells the story of a 1950’s housewife living in the modern world striving for domestic bliss alongside estate husband Johnny, as their lifestyle choices are challenged by friends and family things to unravel.

Anna Palmer directed this play, and it was done very well.  A lot on conscious decisions were well made and well thought out.  The play moved seamlessly from room to room, it was clear a lot had thought had gone into characterisation.  I understand why the decision was made to change Sadie on stage, but it did feel uncomfortable positioned at the front of the stage in a spotlight, could this have been done not in a spotlight towards the back of the stage, while the other characters came on to set the new scene?   However, overall, there was clear direction and well thought out characters.

Sadie Wood played the title character Judy; she was nothing short of exceptional.  She never left the stage, she always stayed in character.  It was clear she had researched the part and era and created a backstory for Judy.  What I enjoyed watching were the little nuances that she added, slight movement of her hands, the little infliction of words, she had thought about everything that she did on stage, well done and congratulations Sadie.

Johnny, Judy’s husband was played by Danny Hurley.  There needed to be strong leading man up against Sadie and in Danny this play had that.  He was very good, finding light and shade in the script, and his partnership with Sadie was great.  Another good performance!

Louise Paton and Samuel Smith played couple Fran and Marcus.  Louise played Fran really well balancing between questioning her friend’s lifestyle choices to embracing some of them herself borrowing a book to learn more.  I also felt you could feel her need to support Marcus but also having some doubts of her own.  Sam played Marcus well, maybe too well his last speech was not only believable but also creepy, he believed what he was saying and doing.

Sylvia, Judy’s mother was played by Julia Thomas.  For me her speech in act 2 was so good, so well delivered and so true! The passion with which she delivered that speech was magnificent.  She was the perfect opposite to Judy.

Finally, Katherine Zopolo Ellacott played Alex Johnny’s new boss.  She reminded me of a city manager wanting to make money and progress in her career but still wanting to be one of the team.  She gave another believable performance.  A small thing but I feel an important thing she needed to clip her hair back, at times it went across her face and masked her, and you could see at times she was needing to push it back.  However, Katherine gave a good performance.

The set was outstanding.  Sophie Bennett created a space where the characters could move from room to room, it was clear and clever.  Lights are not always mentioned, but in this show they have to be, Ben Williamson is a young and very talented technician, the lights were subtle but moved seamlessly with the cast and show and also, they gave a sense of the time of day and mood, supper work Ben and Sophie.

Props were perfect and looked authentic and if I know Lynne, they may well have been authentic, they added to the style of show.

Costumes were well chosen, looked good.  Good contrasts for each character and well-chosen dresses for Sadie.

It was lovely to see a new play I haven’t seen before and it was well thought out and performed Thank you to Pat and the front of house staff for their hospitality.

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