by Christopher Day.
This is a play about two trios. There’s three women, all waiting to hear whether their genetics mean they’re highly susceptible to cancer. And then there’s their husbands and partners, meeting at a pub – after the women have died. It’s a fascinating concept and offers much dramatic potential, though that is only partially fulfilled here. This is a flawed production, with sometimes clunky exposition, weak characterisation, out of place dialogue and occasionally stilted acting. But it has real strengths too – the plot naturally lends itself to an emotional exploration of how gender influences our perspectives on love, death and marriage, and the characters come to life when they interact with their partners and spouses.
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We’re then pulled back in time to the meeting of the three women at the clinic where there’s a delay in getting the results of their genetic tests. They get chatting, and make a joint decision the reverberations of which are felt throughout the play. Celebrity stylist Pamela (Juan’s partner, played by Saria Steyl) and Samantha are the most well-drawn characters, and become ever more likeable as we peer into their relationships with their partners. Corinna (Kaara Benstead), on the other hand, is always likeable as a frazzled mother of four and finance whizz, but suffers from being given plenty of out of character lines and a delivery that feels emotionless at times.
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Diversifications at the Old Red Lion Theatre. Photo: Ross Kernahan |
It is also a shame that the discussions within each gendered group are marred by scarcely believable lines of dialogue and the unsubtle explanation of background information. There’s an odd (and lengthy) metaphor about nets which makes little sense – it relies on one finding the experience of being caught in a net cosy. These are more than just quibbles. In the first half, they break the immersion. It is only in the second half that this play and its characters draw us in with its touching insights into three different partnerships.
Diversifications is at the Old Red Lion Theatre until 2 July