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On Golden Pond Malvern Festival Theatre *****
MIDDLE Ground's
On Golden Pond
is the original Ernest Thompson 1979 Broadway play which was turned into
the 1981 American drama film starring Jane and Henry Fonda. Fonda, in his final
film role, and his co-star Katharine Hepburn both received Oscars, as
did Thompson for his wonderful script, and there were a further seven
Oscar nominations. Jane, who bought the film rights to the play, and
Henry were notoriously emotionally detached in real life and the film
was instrumental in bringing the father and daughter closer together
albeit it late on in Henry's life. So what's it all about? An aging couple, Ethel
and Norman Thayer, spend each summer at their home on their beloved lake
Golden Pond.
Chelsea introduces them to her new fiancé, Bill,
and asks the Thayers to look after Bill's young son Billy while she and
Bill go to Europe. Billy Ray (Graeme Dalling) & Bill Ray (Tom Roberts) Billy is not entirely impressed at being palmed off with the elderly strangers in the house on the lake. However he is not daunted by Norman's
brusque and grumpy manner, and thus begins the dawning of a special
relationship between the two over a summer of fun and new adventures on
Golden Pond. Chelsea returns married and a little exasperated
and envious of the fact that Norman has bonded with her husband's
teenager in a way he never quite did with her. This play is a little treasure! There are some
absolutely fine performances in this production and a rare treat to see
this class of acting, script and production together. Richard Johnson is a master of theatrical talent
bringing his own amusing if not cantankerous observations to the elderly
Norman as he struggles to come to terms with facing old age, and his
obsession with death. Stephanie Powers is elegant and gracious and
plays Ethel with oodles of sweetness, tolerance, love and kindness and
the chemistry and timing between these two on stage is a delight to
watch. It's full of humour and comedy, much lighter than
the film, and has some wonderful one liners which are played beautifully
between the two leads who portray the most believable and quite adorable
couple, aging graciously together with incredible spirit.
There is a great scene between Tom Roberts who
plays Bill and Richard Johnson where Norman attempts to whip up some
humiliation but Bill challenges him and a battle of wills ensues. Liz Carling makes a good Chelsea, and Graeme
Dalling plays Billy brilliantly as the cool kid who lightens the lives
and injects the youth back into the elderly bones of Norman. Michael Lunney the director of Middle Ground is
precise and methodical with his direction, detailed set design,
seventies costumes and music. This is a charming play touching on the sadness
of aging, but also about companionship, loyalty, reconciliation and
love. It's full of humour born from natural human experiences and
relationships. It is a sentimental piece and I really think it will be a
huge success at Malvern and for the rest of the tour. I do hope
so. To 11-02-12. Johanna Brand
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They
are visited by their daughter Chelsea, who is somewhat estranged from
her curmudgeon of a father. 