The Memory Of Water

Shelagh Stephenson's exceptionally funny and moving play sees three sisters come together in their dead mother's bedroom the night before her funeral. Together they unearth some very different views of their childhood and the mother who was central to their lives.

Dead mother, Vi (Sandra O’Nions) comes back to visit her daughter Mary (Louise Robinson) before her funeral. These encounters, which could strain the audiences' credibility, are amongst the most powerful in the production, I very much liked the suggestion that the conversations Mary has with her dead mother seem as though they are in Mary’s imagination rather than attempting to create a realistic ‘haunting’ approach, kudos to the Director for this, which, if used smoke, lighting specials and eerie music, would have been completely off the mark, but these powerful and subtle moments translated beautifully.

Louise and Sandra create an atmosphere laden with the desperation that comes from years of misunderstanding, frustration and love.

Vi’s other two daughters, Teresa (Diane Manship) and Catherine (Lisa Garrish) are each a little bit more of a cliché – Teresa, with her bossy big-sister manner and uptight 'I looked after our mother, where were you?' attitude, contrasting with Catherine and her string of boyfriends, shopping addiction and typical youngest sister behaviour - all three sisters perform with high calibre which successfully brings all three sisters to life.

After a slightly shaky first few minutes where the performers seem to be feeling their way a little, everything loosens up and the result is a highly enjoyable performance.

Louise is excellent as Mary and has several shining moments, bringing a raw humanity to her high emotion encounters with her sisters, boyfriend as well as, most electrically, the spirit of her mother.

Diane was at her best when giving her sozzled ‘tearing into the others’ after a few whisky’s but also successfully shows her vulnerable side. Lisa brings a charming innocent quality to the hapless Catherine and brings mounds of energy into the piece.

I did, however, notice areas for enhancements; The collection of ‘Mothers’ outfits which the sisters tried on, although supposed to be way out of fashion and slightly on the ‘garish’ side, did look as though they had been found on a rail in an amateur dramatics wardrobe (which, of course we all know they had) but didn’t believably translate as realistic items to be found in a ladies wardrobe.

The biggest criticism, which is one for the Director, stood out in Vi’s final scene, although wonderfully performed by Sandra, I felt her hair, make-up and costume was too over the top as she looked more like Fruma-Sarah from ‘Fiddler on the Roof’ rather than a realistic interpretation of a spirit. A white outfit, yes, but less stereotypical and less ‘Halloween’ would have been more appropriate for the nature of this play.

The set worked very well and was very convincing, it was clear that a lot of thought and detail went into this.

My favourite, magic moment, was the final tableau of act one, the photograph, which did capture a charming moment which summed up the entire vibe of the play.

This was a very enjoyable evening’s entertainment which the society should be mightily pleased with, congratulations!

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