Your wedding day is said to be the happiest day in your life, but for Sylvia (Krystal Cave) and Marek (Spencer Scholtz) it was one which ended in conflict and drama and injury. This is play wherein a family from a mining town in the north of England have laboured long-held grudges and jealousy, insecurity and regrets, so the their reunion at the wedding of Sylvia and Marek becomes the catalyst for emotions, insecurities, which once unleashed, devour all the goodwill with which the day began.Those Northerners do not pull any punches!
This play was set in the round so that most of the action took place within a circle, surrounded by the audience. This served to create the idea of a room where much of the action took place, beginning with the family preparing for the wedding, with hair curlers and cosmetics to the fore.
Later scenes are set at the the wedding breakfast, celebrations and speeches leading to a dramatic conclusion. The in the round set worked well in some ways but made it difficult see the action from every side. The impact is lost when all one sees is the back of an actor talking to an another actor who is heard but not seen.
Till the Stars Come Down is written for ensemble theatre, and last night the large cast excelled.
In the quieter moments Brant Eustice as John contrasted the force of feeling shown by the three sisters, Hazel (Martha Lott) Maggie, (Michelle Nightingale and Sylvia, without sacrificing depth of feeling. The sister’s performance highlighted the conflict between siblings who both love and cherish each other, yet have serious dividing issues.
There is no ambiguity between the brothers Pete (Steve Turner) and Tony (Brendan Cooney) who had been on opposing sides of the picket line during the miners’ strikes.
The groom, Marek, a self-made Polish migrant, showed a refreshing exuberance, unfazed by the underlying racism and the two young daughter of Hazel and John, Leanne (Laura Lines) and Sarah (Millie Fagan) were effective as a younger dimension in the family drama.
There is enough humour to taper the raw anger, and confrontation, despite conflicts which touched on more issues than one would ever hope to find in one wedding day. A challenging start to the year at Holden Street with the new Director, Nick Fagan. We can look forward to what will follow.
Holden Street Theatres May 26-June 13
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