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(ear) (ear)
Caroline gives Diane a life From me to 3792 The Other RSC The Station Pub, Sutton
Coldfield **** DIANE'S marriage to Richard might not yet
have reached the familiarity breeding contempt stage but it has the
distinctly jaded look of indifference hanging over it. Richard no longer dotes on her nor does he hang attentively on her every utterance, in fact , if truth be known, he doesn't seem to acknowledge most of what she says. They may still live together but their lives seem to have drifted apart. Her twin sons have flown the nest to university
where they are discovering themselves - and one may also have discovered
he is gay - and they have just announced they will not be coming home
for Christmas.
It is the sort of family which is not a million
miles away from the families of people we all know which is probably the
strength of West Midland writer David Hendon's one character play - it
has elements we can all recognise, people and characters who live down
our street. Into this picture of less than domestic bliss
comes Chuck - the mass murderer awaiting judicial dispatch form this
life. Diane found him, or at least the internet site
inviting you to write to an inmate on Death Row in the USA, in a
neighbour's Daily Mail. And it is from her letters to Chuck
we find out about her frustrations, disappointments and at times
her raw despair about her lot. It is not easy to hold an audience for 80 minutes
with cast of thousands - singlehandedly it is a remarkable feat and
Caroline Nash manages it superbly as she brings every character in her
tale to life with plenty of asides and gentle humour leading the
audience through every emotion known to woman. A wonderful performance.
To 3-11-10. Roger Clarke The play moves on to Nottingham Arts Centre
5-11-10 then The Playhouse, Northampton for a three night run from
2-12-10 to 4-12-10
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