Till The Stars Come Down - Dorfman NT

I saw it tonight, and thought it was excellent.

It's a family drama, state-of-the-nation play, with some superb acting from a superlative ensemble (even at this early preview stage).

Some spoilers follow. . .

I was in line for a historical play the other day, chatting to a guy in the queue to get in, and he just comments out of the blue, perhaps because the play we are seeing is historical: "Everything is getting worse."

Then I go to see some stand-up comedy last night, and the comedian says, essentially, "Everything is getting worse, but for me personally, things are going great," which was a pretty hilarious line of thought for some state-of-the-nation commentary.

It's the zeitgeist, it seems, that everyone feels this: an inexorable decline in the state of the nation.

This play is very much a state of the nation play, with one family wedding forming the microcosm through which the nation howls out it's anguish.

Elements include our attitude to immigrants (a Polish fella is marrying into the family), a decline in economic fortunes (the mining industry features, amongst other things), young people addicted to phone screens, midlife crises and aging generally.

It's the state of the nation commentary that prevents this from playing out like a very well acted episode of EastEnders.

There will be criticism from the camp who demand playwrights go beyond delineating problems and start suggesting solutions. But if you accept that prescribing problems is the first step to solving them, or at least, to coping with them, then this is really well done.

I was reminded a bit of Chekhov's state of the nation play, "Three Sisters," as this play also centres on three sisters, Sinead Matthews's Sylvia (about to marry the Polish chap, an especially convincing Mark Wooton, doing an accent), Lucy Black's Hazel (unhappily married, to Derek Riddell's slippery John, with two daughters, and oozing Tracy Letts style vitriol, in particular about immigration) and youthful life-of-the-party single sister, Lisa McGrillis's Maggie, who is nonetheless burdened by her own secrets).

As we watch and enjoy all the fun and exuberance of wedding preparations, and hopes for the future, we also face down the built up burdens of the past and the various ennuis of the present.

The family feels exceptionally real, and all players are utterly convincing. At times, there are simply too many dramas going on, and it really does feel a little like EastEnders, but overall, this touches on very real issues, portrays very real feeling people, with all their warmth and imperfections.

It did feel to me like this summed up alot of the Country's anguish, it did not feel like it even tried to solve them, and it did make me want to watch Amir Shah's standup set, Ends, again, which deals with many of the same issues in a more hilarious upbeat way.

There are many hilarious moments in this too, mostly in the second half, but this play gives full vent to darkness as well as light, is exciting, worthwhile, albeit with a few loose ends (for instance, it dabbles a bit in magical realism at one point, but leaves the potential of that approach largely unrealised).

Among the other ensemble, Alan Williams is heartbreaking as the patriarch of the family, his deadpan underplaying giving the whole production humanity and weight, but there are no weak links on this stage.

4 stars from me.

PS: the running time tonight was 2 and a half hours precisely, concluding at 10pm.

Personally I think Mike Bartlett only offers a white middle class view in everything he writes

And this might be expected as he is a white middle class middle aged man

But I would not rely on him for a balanced critique on the social classes

And for the record

Both the writing and acting in Eastenders

Runs rings around most new playwriting

I think you could argue Derek Riddell as John is why things fall apart

Seems unfair to a single out Maggie

Oh no, I braved the journey to London despite the strike to see it...

I'm guessing illness is the reason and because the Dorfman doesn't have understudies means cancellation was likely.

Quite a few small theatre's dont ( Young vic, Donmar, Almedia). Too expensive, though they can rehearse someone up as a replacement if needs be

5 stars: Telegraph, Guardian, Whats On Stage,
4 stars: Independent, Evening Standard, The Times, Financial Times, Time Out, The Stage..

..and Steve/Parsley1, thumbs up..

I have booked for this today. It sounds brilliant and right up my street!

Seeing on Saturday. I don’t quibble with a Parsley Steve recommendation of a family row play! That’s why I love this place!

Yes, that greatly encouraged me too!

Lots of seats still available. I've just bought two for Feb 13th. Loads more there for £45.00.