Children Of The Wolf
Highbury Theatre Centre
***
JOHN Peacock’s 1971 play about the
consequence of actions is given a second airing at Highbury after an
initial production back in 1975.
The story of twins, abandoned at birth and
determined to right some wrongs 21 years down the line, tackles themes
that were undoubtedly more shocking at the time than they are today.
Adultery, promiscuity and general ‘bad parenting‘
were a big deal back in the early 70s. Huge, it seems, if the level of
revenge exacted here is anything to go by.
In a sense, this is now almost a historical
piece. Still relevant and certainly watchable but sitting very firmly in
its time and place.
The action is played out on a suitably shadowy,
run down set. It’s a room containing only simple furniture and with
walls that need more than a little TLC. It’s more of a cell than a
living room but that is very much the point.
To give the whole story would spoil the ending
(and it must be said that it’s an ending that really shouldn’t be
spoilt) Loosely, it’s about a brother and sister
 who
manage to arrange a reunion with their estranged mother. Recriminations
ensue and let’s just say there is not a huge amount of love in the room.
Helen Denning is suitably cold and calculated as
daughter, Linda. It’s a tough role and sometimes not helped by the
writer who gives her very little, if any, humour. It’s not, admittedly,
in any sense a comedy role but such lengthy chunks of dialogue could do
with a contrast of emotion at times, just to give the character more
dimension. Denning, though, works well with what she has and creates
genuine unease as she turns the screw on her crumbling victim.
Denning certainly has
the ‘chill factor’. If Misery
is on the cards anytime soon, she would absolutely nail Annie Wilkes . .
. just a thought.
Susie May Lynch goes on something of an acting
journey as the mother, Helena. At the outset, blissfully unaware of what
is to come, she is confident and in charge. As the truth unfolds,
however, her fall from grace is visibly apparent and well portrayed.
Josh Higgs gets less dialogue as the brother - to
be fair he can’t really get a word in with his somewhat verbose and
dominating sister. His physicality as a shy, emotionally unstable young
man is nonetheless impressive.
Director, Claire Armstrong Mills embellishes the
action with some atmospheric underscoring and uses lighting to good
effect in flashback sequences. Crucially, she creates a foreboding
atmosphere throughout.
At times, it feels a little like a radio play.
Words feature more than action. There are large sections of dialogue
that are often repeated and they really don’t need to be. The result of
that is that pace can drop and it can appear slow. The structure of the
piece doesn’t help. A short first act followed by a lengthy second one
seems the wrong way round.
Cleverly directed and
with strong performances, Children Of
The Wolf will make you sit up and
listen . . . and watch out for that ending!! To 29-10-16
Tom Roberts
18-10-16
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