The Anniversary

For the final play of their 2013 Season, WADS transported their audience to a 1966 South London Living Room, where Tom (Ivan Hall) has brought his pregnant fiancée Shirley (Laura Moralee) home to meet the family on the occasion of Mum’s annual wedding anniversary ritual.  Along with Shirley, we meet Tom’s brothers.  Firstly Henry (John Eaves) a rather gentle soul who has a penchant for women’s clothes.  Then, Terry (Andrew Dent), a rather spineless man, who is desperately trying to find a way of breaking the news that he intends to emigrate to Canada with his long suffering wife Karen (Anne Dobson).  And finally we meet Mum (Alison Steele), who, through the sequence of events which unfold through the course of the “Anniversary” celebrations, wields a venomous tongue, slinging bitchy comments in all directions, whilst remaining impervious to those thrown back at her.   Her possessiveness of her three boys drives her to extremes which, at times, leaves the audience, and her guests, feeling rather uncomfortable.  This was a very dark comedy, which the cast mostly coped with, although at times the pace left some out on a limb.  Of particular note was Ivan Hall as youngest son Tom. He manipulated both his monstrous mother and feisty fiancée to his advantage and finally managed to cut those apron strings by the end of the evening. Also, John Eaves as the cross-dressing Henry, who remained in character throughout.  The set, as usual, was well dressed and decorated with well-chosen props and costumes complimenting the final look of the piece. This show rounded off a successful 2013 for WADS.  

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