A TASTE OF HONEY. To 11 May
A TASTE OF HONEY
by Shelagh Delaney
Queens Hornchurch to 11 May
Tue - Sat 8pm
Matinee: Thurs 2 May 2.30pm
Signed performance and talkback: Wed 1 May 8 pm
Audio described performance: Thurs 2 May 2.30 pm
2h 15mins. One interval.
TICKETS 01708 443333
Review Danny Braverman 30 April
A thoughtful production of Shelagh Delaney's startlingly contemporary 50's play.A Taste of Honey is a remarkable play. First produced in 1958, it has stood the test of time better than almost any other play from an era when working-class life was first realistically depicted on the English stage.
To a modern audience the characters now seem familiar, although in 1958 the act of putting this collection of individuals together on stage was revolutionary. The protagonist is 17 year-old Jo whose journey is shown through her relationships with her mother Helen, her new step-father, the drunken Peter, her gay best friend Geoff and her black boyfriend. All these relationships are drawn with wit and compassion, never avoiding the awkward reality of prejudice. The black boyfriend is the least well-observed character - and it's no coincidence that he doesn't even merit a name.
Nevertheless, the play has an extraordinary authenticity, created originally by author Shelagh Delaney's collaboration with the celebrated Theatre Workshop director Joan Littlewood at Theatre Royal Stratford East and her techniques for improvising around a text.
This production at the Queens is professionally and sensitively put together, director John Dove ensuring that the dialogue sparkles and the cast establish lively and believable relationships.
Although never quite giving the play the emotional power it deserves, the production is notable for the way that the cast make the characters their own. Justine Koos as Jo is a delightful oddball - a very likeable character despite her moodiness. I would have preferred to see Ben Fox give his Geoff just a hint of camp - if only to make credible the disparagement he receives at the hands of Helen and Peter. Sally Edwards' plays mum Helen's brazenness with delicacy - making you wonder what really lies beneath all the front and Richard Dax sensibly avoids the pitfalls of making Peter a toff and is convincingly slimy.
Perhaps the most disconcerting thing about this show is that, forty-four years down the line, we leave the theatre to walk into a world where the plight of teenage mothers, racism, homophobia and kids outside the window wrecking cars can still strike a chord.
Helen: Sally Edwards
Josephine: Justine Koos
Peter: Richard Dax
The Boyfriend: Mark Asante
Geoffrey: Ben Fox
Director: John Dove
Designer: Rodney Ford
Lighting: Matthew England
On the book: Will Cooper
2002-05-01 21:19:59