AMY'S VIEW: Hare, Library Manchester, till 24 November

Manchester

AMY’S VIEW: David Hare
Library Theatre, Manchester: Tkts 0161 236 7110
Runs: 2h 30m, One interval, till Saturday 24 November
Review: EK Hudson, 1 November 2001

A potentially fascinating drama that somehow fails to engage
Based on the themes of past and future, theatre versus film and television, mother versus daughter, love versus life, Amy’s View focuses on the events that take place within a family between 1979 and 1995. Each family member has an interest in the Arts (be it theatre, fine art or cinema) but their views conflict, particularly those of mother and daughter and especially on the nature of true love.

The play revolves around Esme Allen (Brigit Forsyth), an old-school actress and domineering mother-figure. It is Esme’s struggle to come to terms with today’s values that we are invited to consider. Her artist husband has died leaving her to look after his elderly mother Evelyn (wonderfully played by June Broughton).

The first act opens when Esme’s daughter Amy (Sara Griffiths) is bringing her boyfriend Dominic (Jonathan Weir) to the family home for the first time. The trouble begins when Esme takes a dislike to Dominic.

Although the cast is strong, there are some awkward moments when they don’t seem quite comfortable on the set. Hare’s dialogue, while eloquent and witty, is not always convincing, the characters not quite real. This may be the intention but in a play set so naturalistically, it jars. In a piece about the nature of art and of love, I expect to find passion, indeed I want to be (in the words of David Hare) “star-struck by the transforming power of art”. The experience of this production is strangely flat.

Director: Chris Honer

Cast:
Amy Allen Sara Griffiths
Dominic Tyghe Jonathan Weir
Evelyn Thomas June Broughton
Esme Allen Brigit Forsyth
Frank Oddie Robert Langdon Lloyd
Toby Cole Kristian Edward-Scott

2001-11-02 10:58:32